Impressive Derry too strong for brave Donegal minor hurlers

A powerful, physically developed and very sklilful Derry side overcame a game but outgunned Donegal in the C All-Ireland Quarter Final in O’Donnell Park. 

Derry 4-18 Donegal 0-13 

The towering visitors had the ‘player of the match’ in Ruairi Biggs whose first touch and finish was a joy to behold. Midfielder Miey Kennedy was deadly accurate from frees while substitute Paul McNicholl grabbed two goals. 

A much lighter Donegal got most of their scores from marksman Brendan Gaffey, while Dan Donnelly was their outstanding figure. 

Derry played into the breeze in the opening half and led by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break after the home side came back from a 1-4 to 0-1 deficit. 

But a quick scoring surge on the resumption put the visitors firmly on the road to victory.  Derry settled swiftly and midfielder Mikey Kennedy converted the resultant free and then the darting Biggs added to the visitors tally after six hard fought minutes. 

Dan Donnelly was giving away a good six inches in height to his Derry marker Michael Walls, but he somehow emerged from a ruck, and hit a great point over his shoulder. 

Kennedy landed another free for Derry,who were playing against the wind as Kyron McColgan of Donegal briefly left the field after suffering an accidental blow to the leg. Derry got another doubtful free in the 9th minute as Kennedy made it 0-4 to 0-1. 

It was then that brilliant Biggs picked up a diagonal ball, rounded two defenders and his shot bounced past Tír Chonaill keeper Fionnain Gill to the net. Suddenly Derry were 1-4 to 0-1 in front, and it looked grim for the home side. 

Brendan Gaffey began the revival with a series of pointe frees as he swapped points with Biggs as the visitors led by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break. 

Kennedy and Biggs quickly extended Derry’s lead with two quick points and then a free from Kennedy crept into the Donegal net to put Derry in front by 2-9 to 0-8. The game was sealed already, and Kennedy, full forward Jude Bryson and Biggs made it 2-13 to 0-8, with Gaffey replying from a free. 

Substitute Paul McNicholl got the first of his two goals for the visitors as both teams tried to give game time to as many players as possible. Oisin Kerr got the last score of the game for Donegal as Derry eased their way into the semi-final. 

Donegal scorers; Brendan Gaffey 0-9,9f; Dan Donnelly 0-1; John Kealy 0-1; Aidan McKinney 0-1; Oisin Kerr 0-1; 

Derry scorers: Mikey Kennedy 1-8,8f; Rory Biggs 1-5; Jude Bryson 0-3; Paul McNicholl 2-1; Ryan McGarvey 0-1;    

Donegal: Fionnain Gill; Killian Barr, Oisin Diver, Cian McDonald; Kyron McColgan, Jacob Malone, Altan McDermott; Stephen Browne, Fionn Farren; John Kealy, Dan Donnelly, Aidan McKinney; Johnny Lin, Cormac McGinn, Brendan Gaffey. 

Subs Tommy Clyne for Kyron McColgan (14), Kyron McColgan for Tommy Clyne (20, Lorcan Bradley for Killian Barr (25), Shea Devlin for Lorcan Bradley (38), Tommy Clyne for Stephen Browne, Oisin Kerr for Johnny Lin ((43), Fionan McNulty for Fionnain Gill (46).

Derry: Conal Moore; Chris McCullagh, Cathal O’Mianain, Fintan Quinn; Danny Gallagher, Michael Walls, Lorcan Bradley; Mikey Kennedy, Ryan McGarvey, Jack Convery, Ben McCullagh, Conor Melaugh; Caolan Connor, Jude Bryson, Rory Biggs. 

Subs; Cathal Quinn for Conor Melaugh (35), Paul McNicholl for Ben McCullagh (44), Ryan McCallion for Jack Convery (50), Caomhan Irwin for Conal Moore (54). 

Referee: Stephen Mullen (Tyrone)