Report: Foley goal shoots Derry on the victory trail against Donegal

Christy Ring Cup

Derry 2-23
Donegal 1-16

By Michael McMullan

DERRY bounced back from last week’s defeat in Wicklow with victory in Saturday’s Ulster derby against Donegal at Find Insurance Celtic Park.

Second half goals from Deaglan Foley and Rian Collins shot Johnny McGarvey’s side into a commanding position.

Derry led by a point at the break after controlling much of the game territorially.

Donegal were wasteful but hit three successive scores to level the game at 0-9 each as the clock ticked into first-half stoppage time.

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An excellent Thomas Brady point after linkup play from Rian Collins and the impressive Cormac O’Doherty put Derry into a lead they never lost.

There was spark about Derry’s play after coming off the back of a disappointing defeat in Wicklow.

Goalkeeper Sean Kelly dictated much with his use of the ball. Patrick Turner and Cahir McGilligan defending superbly with Conor Coyle continuing to shine.

Rian Collins made a first start after joining the panel during the week, playing in a two-man inside line with Shéa Cassidy.

There was a return for the suspended Eamon Cassidy but Derry lost Eamon Conway to an ACL injury during the week.

O’Doherty rotating between a role inside and adding to the collective workrate in the middle third the tipped the scales.

Donegal were still without the injured Conor Gartland and the suspended Danny Cullen but came into the game after some impressive form.

Two up

Two Foley points had Derry ahead, 0-3 to 0-1, after 13 minutes but in a tight opening spell Donegal were back level, 0-4 each thanks to a long-range effort from Declan Coulter.

A flicked Richie Ryan point could’ve ended up in the Derry net while Luke White stood form to repel a Darragh McGilligan effort.

O’Doherty, Collins and Coyle put Derry into a deserving 0-9 to 0-6 lead after 27 minutes but the visitors shaved the margin by to a point by half-time.

The key score came in the 39th minute. After John Kealey hit a Donegal score, a long puck-out from Kelly made it to Foley in the Derry inside line. When a Rian Collins run took a defender out of position, Foley finished to the net.

Strike two

It broke the game with Collins then racing in to added a second goal, making the score 2-14 to 0-13 with 20 minutes to go.

White made a brilliant save to deny Coyle as Derry complete control.

A McKinney run made a goal for Donegal sub Dan Donnelly to leave 10 points between the teams with as many minutes left.

Shea Cassidy, Eunan Boylan, Connor Melaugh and Darragh McGilligan tagged on scores to cement victory.

Derry make the trip to Meath in their next game, needing a win to keep their hopes alive of making a final ahead of Kerry’s trip north for the final group game.

Donegal have home games to play against Roscommon and Meath as the business end approaches.

Derry: S Kelly; JL McGlade, P Turner, C McGilligan; E Cassidy, M McGrath (0-1), C Coyle (0-2); D McGilligan (0-3), T Brady (0-1); C O’Doherty (0-8, 3f), D Foley (1-2), F Bradley, J Mulholland; R Collins (1-1), Shéa Cassidy (0-2)
Subs: E Boylan (0-1) for F Bradley (28), C Melaugh (0-1) for Mulholland (56), T Melaugh for E Cassidy (64), R McGarvey for T Brady (66), SM Quinn for Foley (67)

Donegal: L White (0-1f); O Kelly, C Bradley, S McBride; C O’Grady, K Kealy, G Browne; R Hilferty, G Gilmore (0-3, 2f), B MacIntyre; D Coulter (0-2), R McDermott (0-1), L McKinney (0-6, 4f); P Kelly, R Ryan (0-1), J Cronolly McGee
Subs: R Hilferty for G Browne (29), J Kealy (0-1) for P Kelly (32), D Donnelly (1-0) for McBride (51), C Diver for MacIntyre (51), C O’Neill (0-1) for G Gilmore (67)

Referee: A Kinahan (Offaly)