Donegal Masters squeezed out by Paddy Bradley inspired Derry

Donegal Masters got their season up and running with an away loss to Derry on Saturday evening. 

Derry  3-14 Donegal 0-15

Played in glorious but energy sapping conditions, a sizeable home crowd were well entertained from gun to tape. 

A debutant Derry side that read well on paper produced the goods in the white heat of war at O’Cahan Park, doing so in scintillating style at times.

Paddy Bradley, of course, top scored with 1-9. That left wand of a foot is as magical as ever. 

Bradley opened the scoring for Derry with their very first attack of the game, before a determined Donegal hit back strongly and led 0-4 to a point after ten minutes.

Late half points from Donegal left the Tír Conaill trailing 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time.

Donegal edged the opening of the second half, before Derry slammed the door shut on their neighbours care of six consecutive Paddy Bradley points.

The visitors continued to fight on doggedly, forced to tag on points when an obdurate Derry defence refused to concede a goal.

A classy finish to the net from Shane McFlynn polished the final scoreboard to the highest shine in Derry’s favour. 

Derry: P McCallion, E McGilloway, A Deery, J Bigmore, M McGuinness, E Scullion, B Mullan, K McGuckin, C McIvor, J O’Connor, P McFlynn, J Gray, P Bradley, D Conway, E Murphy

Subs: J Deighan, D Brolly, S O’Kane, S Timoney, S McGuigan, O Murray, M Scullion, T Niblock, P Scullion, R O’Kane, C McGuigan, S McFlynn, L McElhone, R Clarence

Donegal:C Gallagher; C Doherty, PJ Doohan, H Foy; M Donaghey, P Gallagher, C McShane; E Keaveney, B Boyle; B McLaughlin, S Coyle, D Slevin; G McBrearty, G Maguire, B Quinn. 

Subs: K O’Brien, C Creevy, C Cunningham, G Gillen, G Kelly, M Mooney, M Floyd, M Canning, T McGinley