Report: McDonnell the Derry hero with winner to set up final meeting with Tyrone

Ulster MFC semi-final

Derry 0-10
Donegal 0-9

By Michael McMullan

DERRY will face reigning champions Tyrone in next weekend’s Ulster minor final.

In a cagey and error-ridden game, Cahir McDonnell kicked the winning score.

It was made by fellow substitute Rocco Devlin who turned the game for the Oakleafers.

Of their final four points, Devlin nailed two, won a free for another and passed to McDonnell for the 65th minute winner.

Devlin levelled matters for the fifth time with nine minutes of normal time remaining.

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For the next 14 minutes of a nervy finale, both teams coughed up possession and missed chances before McDonnell’s winner.

It was a game of two halves that Donegal controlled for long periods and led at half-time, 0-4 to 0-2.

Mark Anthony McGuinness was the Donegal hero in recent games but Dara McKaigue did an excellent marking job.

It allowed centre back Joey Mullan the licence to sit back or go forward.

Derry’s problem in the first half was how passive they were.

In a way it worked, as their setup kept all of Donegal’s possession around the outside of the 40-metre arc. On the flip side, they were pegged back.

Don Mulholland opened the scoring with a point before having a goal saved by Donegal ‘keeper Cormac Crossan.

After winning three successive Derry kick-outs, Donegal then took hold.

Points from Conor Griffin, Callum Dorrian, Finn Gillespie and Tadhg McDaid had Donegal 0-4 to 0-1 ahead before Mulholland replied for Derry.

Saves

Crossan made another save from Mulholland with Michael Doherty making a brilliant double save to deny Danny Óg Cooney and then Mark Anthony McGuinness.

Doherty impact continued, nailing a vital two point free to push Derry ahead 0-5 to 0-4.

That was the start of the nip and tuck nature of a nervous second half.

In the end, it all came down to Rocco Devlin to give Derry the pathway to the inside line.

It was also a game of inches. A Donegal missed chance and some loose possession let Derry off the hook.

It gave them a chance to win the game and that’s exactly what McDonnell did.

Kieran Glackin’s side now play reigning champions Tyrone in the final next weekend.

Scorers

Derry: Don Mulholland 0-3 (1f), Pól McPeake (2f), Michael Doherty (tpf), Rocco Devlin 0-2 each and Cahir McDonnell 0-1

Donegal: Tadhg McDaid, Finn Gillespie 0-2 each, Callum Dorrian, Conor Griffin, Mark Anthony McGuinness (f), Matthew McGinley and Fionán Coyle each

Derry: Michael Doherty; Dan McEldowney, Conor Sargent; Joey Mullan; Connaill Campbell, Dara McKaigue, Jarlath McCartney; Gabriel Gormley, Dara McKenna; Lorcan Higgins, Donncha Collins, Tomás Devlin, Conor O’Kane; Tadhg Bradley, Don Mulholland
Subs: Pól McPeake for Collins (22), Rocco Devlin for McKenna (HT), Ultan McCloskey for Campbell (45), Cahir McDonnell for Devlin (50), Cormac McGuckin for McCartney (65)

Donegal: Cormac Crossan; Niall McBrearty, Mark Wilkinson, Raynne Rowan; Thomas McHugh, Matthew McGinley, Fionán Coyle, Conor Griffin, Tadhg McDaid; Jamie Monaghan, Mark Anthony McGuinness, Oisin Mullen; Callum Dorrian, Danny Óg Cooney, Finn Gillespie.
Subs: Evan Duffy for Dorrian (45), Lewis Cunnea for Wilkinson (54), Rory Gill for Griffin (61)

Referee: James Lewis (Fermanagh)