By Charlie Collins
Derry 0-17 v 4-11 Donegal
A super second-half performance saw Donegal end Derry’s reign as Ulster champions as three goals to add to one in the first half made Derry’s task too difficult. Donegal started without team captain Paddy McBrearty who hadn’t fully recovered from his injury, Jason McGee took his place while on the plus side Brendan McCole returned from his injury to take his place at full back.
Donegal line up before Saturday’s quarter final. Photo Evan Logan
Ethan Doherty and Paul Cassidy from a mark got Derry off to a good start in the opening five minutes as they dominated early possession. Donegal’s first real attack almost produced a goal when Ryan McHugh sent Caolan McGonagle through but his shot was deflected wide, Oisín Gallen converted the 45.
Conor Doherty got Derry’s third point but then Donegal really came into this game scoring three points in a row and then the game’s first goal. Ryan McHugh was the main man in this period, he clipped over a point, was involved as Daire O Baoill added another and then McHugh took his second off his left foot and Donegal led by 0-04 to 0-03.
Donegal’s Ryan McHugh turns for goal supported by Oisín Gallen during Saturday’s quarter final. Photo Evan Logan
Then a big moment with the game’s first goal, Shaun Patton’s long kick out caught Derry short at the back and the quick thinking McHugh laid the ball off to Daire O Baoill who floated a perfect ball over the head of the back tracking Odhran Lynch into the net, Donegal four in front, 1-04 to 0-03.
Ethan Doherty and Oisín Gallen exchanged points, Paul Cassidy and Christy Mc Kaigue points left just two between them as play flowed from end to end at tremendous pace. Peadar swung over a cracking point from an acute angle but Ethan Doherty with his third score and Shane McGuigan with his first left just one in it, 1-06 to 0-08.
Donegal’s Oisín Gallen gets his pass away under pressure during Saturday’s quarter final. Photo Evan Logan
Donegal put together a super passing move to allow Ciaran Moore to score a lovely point but Brendan Rogers had the final say of the half for Derry and at half-time Donegal led by just one, 1-07 to 0-09, and anyone’s game.
And what a start we had to the second-half with two Donegal goals inside twelve minutes. Daire O Baoill repeated his first-half floated effort, catching keeper Lynch too far out again, Niall O Donnell kicked a super point, Brendan Rogers replied but when Shane O Donnell was fouled Oisín Gallen slotted home from the penalty spot and Donegal led by 3-08 to 0-10 points.
Donegal’s Niall O’Donnell on a strong run during Saturday’s quarter final. Photo Evan Logan
Niall O Donnell received a black card and Derry hit three quick points but after Patrick McBrearty had pointed a free his fellow sub Jamie Brennan raced through to hammer home Donegal’s fourth goal, followed quickly by a Ciaran Thompson point and at 4-10 to 0-13 points there was no way back for Derry.
Oisín Gallen converted another long range point and scores from Gareth McKinless and two from Shane McGuigan were merely consolidation scores and Jim McGuinness had announced his return to the Ulster Champiomship in some style.
Derry: Odhran Lynch , Conor McCluskey, Chrissy McKaigue (0-01), Diarmuid Baker, Conor Doherty (0-01), Eoin McEvoy, Pádraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers (0-02), Ethan Doherty (0-04), Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy (0-02), Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan (0-04), Lachlan Murray (0-01). Subs: Niall Toner for Loughlin (27mins), Gareth McKinless (0-01), for McGrogan (27 mins),Donncha Gilmore for McKaigue (59 mins).
Donegal: Shaun Patton, Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore (0-01), Peadar Mogan (0-01), Ryan McHugh (0-02), Caolan McGonagle, Shane O Donnell, Michael Langan, Ciaran Thompson (0-01), Niall O Donnell (0-01), Daire O Boaill (2-01), Jason McGee, Oisin Gallen (1-03), Aaron Doherty. Subs: Gavin Mulrea for Patton (56mins) Jamie Brennan (1-00) Aaron Doherty (57mins), Patrick McBrearty (0-01) for Niall O Donnell (59mins), Odhran Doherty for McGee (66mins), Kevin McGettigan for Curran (68mins) Referee: David Gough (Meath)
