Donegal strike late to edge out Derry in Minor League decider

Donegal pulled out all the stops in the closing ten minutes to snatch a dramatic minor league final win over Derry, in Gleann, Maghera, this afternoon. 

Donegal 1-9     0-9 Derry

Corner forward  Eoghan Scott grabbed a dramatic late goal on the stroke of full-time as Donegal came from five down to be crowned Ulster Minor League champions.

The Glenswilly ace stroked the ball home from a tight angle after the Derry keeper fumbled a direct ball in to effectively seal the win and the title. 

Seconds earlier Shane Callaghan had tied up the game after he converted Donegal’s third close in free in-a-row to tie up the game on the hour mark. 

In all, Donegal came from five down in the closing seven minutes having fallen 0-9 to 0-5 in the second half having traded ends at half-time 0-5 to 0-4 in front. 

The win heralds a first minor league crown for Donegal in seven seasons and their first at U17 level.  

Naomh Columba clubman Shane Callaghan top scored with 0-5, four of them frees, with Scott netting the goal and Dylan Mulholland posting 0-3 and the team captain Finbar Roarty also getting in on the scoring act. 

This was a hard earned but fully merited victory for Donegal and was born out of a relentless workrate and refusal to accept defeat when looking down the barrel with ten minutes remaining. 

While Callaghan, Darragh Hennigan, Jordi Cribben, Donal Gallagher, Lorcan McGee, Jack Hegarty, Luke Clerkin and Mulholland were the standout players this was an all round good hard working team performance.

Padraig McBride, in goals, also merits a special mention.  The Gaoth Dobhair custodian's penalty save ten minutes into the second half was from the top drawer and a game changer. 

Derry, who went into the tie as firm favourites, had started the second half at breakneck pace and inside the opening five minutes of the new period had come from behind to go two up 0-7 to 0-5.

And when ten minutes after the resumption corner forward Darragh McGonigle was fouled just inside the large rectangle, Donegal looked in a spot of bother.

But when McBride dived full stretch to deny McGonigle from the spot kick it gave them their chance. 

Derry were playing better football at this stage and courtesy of two strikes from substitute Oisin Doherty they were four up, 0-9 to 0-5, by the 50 minute mark. 

Callaghan stroked over the first of his three late frees on 53 minutes - Donegal's first score of the second half -  to get the ball rolling before they closed out the game.

Donegal led by a point 0-5 to 0-4 in an evenly contested opening half hour dominated by packed defences. Mulholland opened the scoring  with a sweetly struck point on five minutes after a slow patient build up.

John Boyle, with a 20 metre free, equalised two minutes later for Derry from close in. With the locals beginning to dominate in the possession stakes with live wire half forward Johnny McGuickan busy they posted a number of wides.

But with Donegal defending and hounding in numbers the Oak Leak men did not score again until the tenth minute when Sargent joined  the attack to clip over from close range after finding a gap in the Donegal rearguard. The number six’s strike was Derry’s only score from play in the first half.  

With the play swinging from end to end and defences on top Mulholland, from a free, broke the deadlock to tie up the game with 21 minutes on the clock.

Callaghan and Mulholland added to the Donegal tally and Donegal were three up for the first time with four minutes left in the half. 

John Boyle and Conall Higgins raised late white flags for Derry to leave just one  between the sides at the interval. 

Donegal scorers: Shane Callaghan 0-5,4f, Dylan Mulholland 0-3,1f, Eoghan Scott 1-0, Finbar Roarty  0-1. 

Derry: John Boyle 0-3,2f, Oisin Doherty 0-2,2f, Seamus  Sargent 0-2, 1’45', Eugene Young, Conall Higgins 0-1 each.

Donegal: Padraig McBride; Donal Gallagher, Jordi Gribben, Callum McCrea; Finbar Roarty, Darragh Hennigan, Luke Clerkin; Oisin Scanlon, Lorcan McGee; Jack Hegarty, Shane Callaghan, John James Sweeney; Dylan Mulholland, Conor McCahill, Eoghan Scott. 

Subs: Ronan Maher for L Clerkin (41), Gavin Doherty for J J Sweeney (51), Shane Ellison for D Mulholland (53), Donnacha O'Baoill for J Hegarty (62).

Derry: Karl Campbell; Finbar Murray, Cathal McKaigue, Fionn McEldowney; Kevin B Mullan, Seamus Sargent, Odhran MacCathmhaoill; Conor Higgins, Tommy Rogers; Cathal Speir, Eamon Young, John McGuickin; Ger Dillon, John Boyle, Darach McGonigle.

Subs: Fionn McGinty for J Boyle and Ronan Donnellan for K B McMullan (38); Deaglan McNamee for G Dillion (52).  

Referee: Conor Curran (Down).