Late Derry goal sinks Donegal in Conor McGurk Cup final

A last-gasp Derry goal in the 63rd minute broke Donegal hearts in a thrilling Conor McGurk final in Celtic Park.

It looked like Donegal had taken their third title on the spin as they led by 0-16 to 0-14 with time virtually up, as Derry won a free on the Donegal 21 metre line.

But instead of lining the goals, Donegal had a maximum of four players on the goal line as Christy McNaughton slammed the sliotar to the net.

Elation for Derry and desolation for Donegal, who were the better team, and it was a dreadful way to lose.

Donegal’s Gerry Gilmore hit nine points, including two from almost 90 metres and was man of the match.

Derry’s Patrick Turner was equally heroic in a game where both sides also hit ten wides each.

Donegal led by 0-10 to 0-7 at the break and added six points in the second half.

At one point, they led by 0-15 to 0-11.

But Derry kept plugging back through points from Fintan Bradley and Deaglan Foley to keep them in touch.

The immaculate Gilmore missed two relatively easy frees in the second half, but his contribution was still immense.

Derry ran their bench and kept battling to the death, and were rewarded by McNaughton’s deadly finish.

Donegal had a whirlwind start with Conor Gartland sweeping over a fine point after ten seconds.

This score was quickly cancelled with a fine effort from Cushendall star Christy McNaughton.

That set the tone for a cracking opening half as Gerry Gilmore landed a 65 to put Donegal into a 0-2 to 0-1 lead.

The athletic Liam McKinney added a third point for the Tir Chonaill men, who were on top in every sector in the opening ten minutes.

Gartland capitalised on a short Derry puck out to put a lively-looking Donegal three points in front.

Then Derry keeper Eoin Mulholland pulled off a superb save from Burt man Liam McKinney that sparked a major change in the game in the 13thminute.

Had McKinney found the net, Donegal would have gone into a six-point lead.

Instead, Derry swept down the field with Fintan Bradley converting a free for the Oak Leafers to leave it a two- point game.

Donegal hit three bad wides as Derry gradually grew into the game.

Gerard Gilmore added another point for Donegal to put them into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead.

Derry gained ascendancy in the second quarter but hit four wides in three minutes.

Shea Cassidy and Gilmore swapped scores, and Cassidy and Conor Coyle tied the game at 0-6 each in the 24th minute.

McNaughton put Derry into the lead for the first time, but two well struck points from Peter Kelly and a single strike from Gilmore left Donegal leading by 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.

Eamon Cassidy opened the scoring for Derry on the restart, but this was cancelled by a superb 90 metre effort from Gilmore, who quickly added another to put Donegal ahead by 0-11 to 0-8. 

Coyle and Bradley made it a one- point game for the home side as the inevitable Gilmore put Donegal into a 0-12 to 0-10 lead by the 41st minute.

And he landed a monster point to make it a three-point game.

It looked good for Donegal when McKinney landed another long-range point to put Donegal ahead by 0-14 to 0-10 midway through the second half.

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But they could only score two more points as Derry finished strongly.

Gilmore was just off target from a free, as Cassidy made it a three-point match.

Derry ran their bench as Gilmore made it 0-15 to 0-11.

Bradley was on target for Derry from a free, and Declan Foley made it Donegal 0-15 to 0-14.

It looked like Donegal had sealed it when Gilmore converted a great free from the sideline before McNaughton’s late smash and grab act.

A hard lesson for Donegal, and they will have learned that it is important to line the goals when in similar circumstances in future.

Derry scorers: Christy McNaughton 1-2; Fintan Bradley 0-4f; Shea Cassidy 0-3; Deaglan Foley 0-2; Conor Coyle 0-2; Eamon Cassidy 0-1.

Donegal scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-9,8f; Conor Gartland 0-2; Brian McIntyre 0-2; Peter Kelly 0-2; Liam Óg McKinney 0-1.

Derry: Eoin Mulholland; Patrick Turner, Joseph Mullholland, Cahair McGilligan; Eamon Cassidy, Deaglan Foley, Tiernan Melaugh; Ryan McGill, Conor Coyle; Christy McNaughton, Fintan Bradley, Aimon Duffin; Paul Cleary, Darragh McGilligan, Shea Cassidy.

Subs: Leo Passmore for Eoin Mulholland (ht), Eunan Boylan for Duffin (39), Conor McGurk for Tiernan Melaugh, Eoin Scullion for Joseph Mulholland and Ruairi Biggs for Paul Cleary (48) 

Donegal: Luke White; Gavin Browne, Ciaran Bradley, Oisin Kelly; Donal Farrelly, Gerard Gilmore, Ryan Hilferty; Liam McKinney, Brian MacIntyre; Conor O’Grady, Kevin Kealy, Conor Gartland; Peter Kelly, Richie Ryan, John Kealy.

Subs: Oisin Marley for Luke White (37), Russell Forde for John Kealy (42), Kieran Brady for Richie Ryan (54).

Referee: Ruan McKinstry (Armagh)