Doherty saves Derry with last gasp equaliser against Galway in Celtic Park thriller

All-Ireland SFC Round Two

Derry 2-20
Galway 4-14

By Michael McMullan

WHAT a game of football this was. An epic. It had everything you could wish for apart from a winner.

Niall Loughlin’s goal shot Derry into an eight-point midway through the second half.

Lachlan Murray’s input was telling and the Oakleafers were making all the right noises.

Galway were making an inroad into the game but Murray’s point in the 62nd minute was inspirational one.

The next kick-out changed the game. Connor Gleeson’s kick went over the sideline but it was adjudged to had flicked off the fingertips of Conor Glass.

Matthew Thompson worked the ball to Liam Silke. Robert Finnerty was then possession and when he squared the pass, Matthew Tierney found the net.

A Dan Higgins catch and the fact it led to Glass making a score for Rogers was another Derry boost but still Galway came coming.

When Kieran Molloy’s hit and hope attempt at a two-pointer pulled across goal, goalkeeper Ben McKinless came out of goals when he didn’t need do.

Enter John Maher who fisted the ball goalwards. The ball ricocheted down off the post. Neither Conor Doherty or Ciaran McFaul could get their hands on the ball.

Tierney saw the gap. Doherty and McFaul collided. Tierney flicked to the net. Goal number four. Galway by one.

Another Derry car crash but it was different this time. McKinless had the composure to find Baker with the kick-out as the final second ticked away.

McGrogan and Conor Doherty were involved in the move.

One last throw of the dice. The ball was recycled until Glass picked out Conor Doherty and he kicked an equaliser with the last action of a compelling game.

Derry and Galway’s qualification hopes will now go to the last weekend against Dublin and Armagh respectively in two weeks’ time.

Galway were against the wind in the first half and Sam O’Neill kicked the opening score before Brendan Rogers landed a two-pointer for Derry.

Conroy levelled before Derry pushed ahead with points from Glass and McGuigan.

Derry were playing like a team with their season on the line, aggressive on the Galway kick-out.

The visitors hit the front when Finnerty forced the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble but it was Derry who hit back immediately.,

Baker made the run from defence, passing to Loughlin with Glass finishing at the far post.

Cassidy and McGuigan (free) kicked two-point scores as Derry pushed 1-8 to 1-3 ahead.,

Finner replied with a Galway score before Walsh pushed inside McEvoy to bag a second Galway goal.

Derry finished with a flourish with Loughlin and McFaul kicking Derry into a 1-11 to 2-6 interval lead.

John Maher and Niall Toner (free) exchanged points before Connor Gleeson made a brilliant save to deny Paul Cassidy. Glass kicked the 45 for a 1-13 to 2-7 lead.

Glass with Loughlin then made it a five-point lead in the 49th minute as they began to push into a commanding position.

When Derry won the next kick-out Lachlan Murray – with his first touch – made goal for Loughlin.

Cooke kicked a two-point score with his first touch with Glass winning the next kick out and Cassidy hitting a response.

Derry breathed a sigh of relief when a Finnerty shot for a point whizzed wide and they needed McKinless to touch a Seán Kelly shot over the bar.

Finnerty punished a kickout to score and it was a five-point game again with 12 minutes to go. Tere was also a Cooke fisted effort that flashed wide.

Galway hit back with a goal. A questionable sideline ball went Galway’s way and when Finnerty squared the pass and Tierney bagged their third goal.

Derry failed to kill off the game and when Tierney hit the game’s last goal, Doherty levelled the game with the last kick.

Scorers for Derry: Conor Glass 1-3 (1 45), Niall Loughlin 1-2, Shane McGuigan 0-4 (2tp), Brendan Rogers, Paul Cassidy 0-3 (1tp) each, Lachlan Murray 0-2, Conor Doherty, Niall Toner (f) and Ciaran McFaul 0-1 each

Scorers for Galway: Matthew Tierney 2-0, Robert Finnerty 1-3 (1f), Shane Walsh 1-1 (f), Peter Cooke (tp), Matthew Costello 0-2 each, Sam O’Neill, Damien Comer (m), John Maher, Paul Conroy, Céin D’Arcy and Seán Kelly 0-1 each

Derry: Ben McKinless; Patrick McGurk, Eoin McEvoy, Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty, Paudi McGrogan, Dan Higgins; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul; Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin, Niall Toner
Subs: Lachlan Murray for E Doherty (INJ 44), Ruairí Forbes for McGurk (57), Anton Tohill for Loughlin (60), Ethan Doherty for Toner (63)

Yellow cards: C Doherty (15), P McGrogan (17), D Baker (28), C Glass (54)

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Seán Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Matthew Thompson, Cillian McDaid, Sam O’Neill; Matthew Tierney, Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh
Subs: Céin D’Arcy (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for O’Neill (19), Peter Cooke for McDaid (50), Damien Comer for Conroy (50), John Daly for Walsh (60), Kieran Molloy for McHugh, Johnny Heaney for Ó Maoilchiaráin (67)

Yellow cards: D’Arcy (20), Finnerty (28)

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)

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