Late Lynch’s show stuns Slaughtneil in county decider

Derry u’21 Hurling Final 2018

Kevin Lynch’s 2-11

Slaughtneil 1-10

From Odhrán Crumley in Ballinascreen

It took a storming second half from Kevin Lynch’s to overcome Slaughtneil and claim their third title in a row at the age group.

The Dungiven side didn’t score until the 16th minute of the game, Slaughtneil rattling up 1-5 in that time including a goal after forty eight seconds from Liam Cassidy.

Robert Emmett’s led by four at the break on a scoreline of 1-6 to 0-5.

In the second half the North Derry seem appeared like a different animal with Richie Mullan leading the charge from placed balls.

After retaining the Ulster Minor title last weekend, minor stars Mullan and Tiernan McHugh led from the front.

There was twelve minutes left on the clock when McHugh rattled the net to give Lynch’s the lead for the first time in the game, a lead they would never lose.

From the next attack Daire McKeever was fouled inside the small parallelogram forcing the referee to award a penalty.

Richie Mullan riffled the penalty into the net to give his side a four point advantage and a lead they would never relinquish on the march to their third title in a row.

Kevin Lynch’s: Sean Kelly (0-1), Niall McNicholl, Conor Kelly, Padraig O’Kane, Conor McKelvey, Richie Mullan (1-5 3f 1’65 1pen), Niall Smyth, Eoghan Cassidy, Corey O’Reilly (0-2), Shea McKeever, Ruairi Rafferty, John Mullan (0-2), Odhran McKeever, Tiarnan McHugh (1-1), Ciaran Steele (0-1).

Subs: Eoghan McGonigle for Ruairi Rafferty (42), Daire McKeever for Conor McKelvey (44)

Slaughtneil: Morgan McEldowney, Sean McCloskey, Ruairi McCloskey, James McCloskey, Fergal Cassidy, Conor McAllister, Michael McEldowney, Séan Cassidy (0-1), Paddy Convery (0-1), Conan Hunter (0-1), Brian Cassidy (0-1), Pronsias Burke (0-5 5f), Liam Cassidy (1-0), Jerome McGuigan (0-1), Séan O’Doherty.

Subs: Ciaran Convery for Séan O’Doherty (48)