Derry have too much for Donegal in Ulster U-20 semi-final

For the first time since 2019, Derry's U-20 footballers can look forward to an Ulster final, following their six-point win over Donegal at Owenbeg.

Derry 0-11 Donegal 0-5

Played in blustery conditions, it was a derby that never quite got the pluses racing of those in attendance. But that won’t worry anyone in the Derry camp in the slightest. 

After blowing away Fermanagh in the quarter-final, Derry came into the tie as hot favourites, but Donegal came to frustrate their hosts with a rigid defensive set-up. Their plan did work to a point as they never allowed a slicker Derry forward division no shots on Aaron Cullen’s goal. In fact, there were no goal chances for either side over the sixty plus minutes.

Instead, Derry were forced into taking shots from distance and Patrick McGurk and Peter McCullough gleefully accepted the invitation to have a go. In the absence of star forward Lachlan Murray, McCullough stepped into the breach vacated by the Desertmartin man to kick four points from play over the hour - each one as good as good as the last.

At the other end of the park a stern Derry defence continually turned over the Donegal attack. Matthew Downey, Mark Doherty and McGurk all guilty of putting the shackles on the Donegal attack.

The battle in the middle sector was dominated by one man. Dan Higgins. The Magherafelt man was a colossus as he claimed as many Donegal kick outs as Derry restarted. His fielding was a joy to behold and one of the few highlights of an otherwise dour contest. 

While McCullough caught the eye with his finishing, Derry were also well served up front by Matthew Downey. The former minor captain put in a mountain of work over the hour and was the stand-out player in a vital third quarter when Derry pulled away from the visitors. 

Not only did he claim two-points in that vital period, but he was also instrumental in setting up for Donnacha Gilmore and McCullough. While there were plenty of positives for the young Oaks, there were also a few negatives to take away for Boyle and his management team. Most notably the number of times when they coughed up possession, particularly in the first half. The strong breeze played havoc with kick passing when a fisted pass looked to be the better option. 

In the second half Derry looked after the ball a lot better and thus created a lot more scoring chances than they did in the first half. 

A Shaun Ward free in the third minute cancelled out a Patrick McGurk’s opener a minute earlier, but Derry didn’t have too long to wait to retake the lead.

McCullough kicked his first of the half after nine minutes in what was a replica of McGurk’s earlier effort. 

Derry, playing with the aid of a strong first breeze, pushed further ahead when McCullough claimed his second score of the afternoon. 

Donegal enjoyed spells of possession, but the tenacious work of the Derry backs prevented anyone from getting a glimpse of O’Connor in the Derry goal. 

With the wind showing no sign of easing off, Derry continued to press and scores from McCullough and Charlie Diamond opened up a four-point lead in favour of the Derry men. 

As half time approached, a second free from Diamond pushed Derry’s lead out to five. Ruairi Forbes did go close to extending that lead but his mark sailed across the front of the Donegal goal to register one four first half Derry wides, and at the break, Derry led 0-6 to 0-1. 

The second half started with Oisin Caufiled setting up Luke McGlynn for only Donegal’s second score of the tie as Leo McLoone’s side went about eating into the deficit. 

But the expected onslaught from the visitors never materialised; the rest of the third quarter belonged to Derry. 

Higgins won a Derry kick out and the ball was worked to Matthew Downey who opened his account from play. Downey quickly added a second from a free before turning provider for McCullagh’s fourth score of the game.

Donnach Gilmore got his name on the scoresheet and with ten minutes left on the clock, the game was as good as over as Derry opened up a eight point lead, 0-10 to 0-2.

Efforts from Caulfield and Donal Gallagher broke the scoring sequence, but Diamond added his third of the game to seal the win which rendered McGlynn’s late effort a mere consolation.

Donegal’s miserable afternoon was topped off in the final minute when corner-back Gallagher was then brandished with a black card after attempting to pick up Lee Brady as he awaited attention from the Derry physio. 

Derry: Ben O’Connor, James Murray, Jody McDermott, Danny McDermott, Patrick McGurk (0-1), Donncha Gilmore (0-1), Ruairi Forbes, Dan Higgins, Patrick O’Kane, Peter McCullough (0-4), Charlie Diamond (0-3f), Mark Doherty, Matthew Downey (0-2 1f), Niall McGonagle, Niall O’Donnell. Subs: Ruairi O Mianain for McGonagle (HT), Lee Brady for D McDermott (HT), Callum Downey for O’Donnell (51), Sean Deehan for Forbes (58).

Donegal: Aaron Cullen, Sean Doherty Ferdia Doherty, Donal Gallagher (0-1), Cian McMenamin, Kyle Murray, Karl Magee, Christy Mulligan, Luke McGlynn (0-2), Conor O’Neill, Shaun Ward(0-1f), Oisin Caulfield (0-1M), David Boyle, Daniel Gildea, Blake McGarvey. Subs: Daniel Marley for O’Neill (39), Luke McGranaghan for Mulligan (46), Kevin Lynch for Boyle (51), Fionnan Coyle for Gildea (56), Aaron Ward for McMenamin (58).

Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone)