Report: Derry hold off late Down comeback in Owenbeg

Ulster MFC

Derry 1-12 Down 1-11

By Michael McMullan

DERRY began their Ulster Championship with a win over Down on Saturday at Find Insurance Owenbeg.

In the end it was Conaill Campbell’s third score that proved the winner after Down hit the net with the last action of the game.

A sweeping move was finished to the net by wing-back Frankie McHugh as Derry were unable to pull away from the visitors.

Lorcan Higgins fisted over the first score of the game before a wind-assisted Down went ahead, 0-3 to 0-1.

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Dylan McAleenan (2) and Dylan Kelly kicked the scores with much their play going through Jack O’Mahony.

The half turned on a 10th minute Derry goal. A kicked ball to Neil McDermott was recycled out of the corner. Gabriel Gormley played the ball and Cahir McDonnell blasted to the net.

McDonnell was a late inclusion after Tadhg Bradley pulled up in the warmup.

Captain Don Mulholland added a point with a second from Lorcan Higgins putting Derry a goal ahead.

The Down minor panel

At the other end O’Mahony played in Dara Ward but goalkeeper Doherty got a leg to put it around the post.

Down then began to close out Derry’s short option on kick-outs but Kieran Glackin’s side won three contested kick-outs on the trot to lead 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

McHugh hit a Down score after two minutes of sustained possession at the start of the second half before Mulholland and McDermott replied for the Oakleafers.

Substitute Tomás Devlin notched a Derry score with Gabriel Gormley also on target and Derry were 1-9 to 0-8 ahead.

McAleenan clipped a two-point free to help Down were back in the game again.

Derry then needed a touch from impressive ‘keeper Doherty to deflect a Ward shot over the bar from point-blank range.

When Mulholland and Campbell tagged on points, Derry were four up.

It was a lead they needed with Down’s slick handpassing move leading to McHugh’s palmed goal in stoppage time.

Derry: M Doherty (0-1f); F McGilloway, C Sargent, D McEldowney; C Campbell (0-3), J Mullan, D McKaigue; G Gormley (0-1), D McKenna; D Collins, L Higgins (0-2), D Mulholland (0-3, 1f); C McDonnell (1-0), P McPeake, N McDermott (0-1)
Subs: C Cassidy for Gormley (Blood sub 22, reversed 25), T Devlin (0-1) for McPeake (40), D McEldowney for McDermott (53), J McCartney for McKaigue (57), T Scullion for McDonnell (64)

Down: B McGreevy; R McCaffrey, L Smith, R Keenan; F McHugh (1-1), E Crosbie, B Clarke; R Austin, T Conway; D Kelly (0-1), J O’Mahony, D Ward (0-1); C Gallagher (0-1), P Joyce, D McAleenan (0-6, 2f, 1tpf)
Subs: S Murdock (0-1) for Gallagher (36), E Lavelle for Kelly (41), M Trainor for Crosbie (53), J O’Hagan for Keenan (58)

Referee: M Coyle (Tyrone)