Molloy nets late goal as Donegal minors end Derry's winning run

Karl Joseph Molloy scored goal as Donegal minors ended Derry’s winning run at the top of the Ulster Minor League at sun-kissed Celtic Park.

Derry 0-11

Donegal 1-11

Derry led by three at the break, but in truth failed to get out of second gear after the interval, with a late Molloy goal ultimately separating two well matched sides in Donegal’s favour.

Unbeaten Derry promised much in the opening thirty minutes and should have been further ahead than the 0-8 to 0-5 half-time score.

Glen’s Johnny McGuckin opening the scoring, with points from Cahir Spier (with two) and Ryan McNicholl racing Derry to an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

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McNicholl added a second and a couple from the spritely Bellaghy forward Ciaran Chambers further extended Derry’s advantage.

However, a fifteen minute power play, with five consecutive scores either side of half-time, pulled Donegal level at 0-8 each by the 40th minute.

Derry found some composure and hit three of the next four scores to lead 0-11 to 0-9 as they approached the home straight. McNicholl swung over his fourth and fifth free of the day before Slaughtneil cub Conor Coyle accounted for Derry’s final point of the day.

Momentum in sport is a wonderful thing to have but a deadly one to lose, and Donegal worked themselves on the right side of it with the game approaching its denouement.

Towering midfielder Lorcan McGee, brother and clone of Donegal senior star Jason McGee, pulled a couple of high balls from the skies and nailed a crucial late point.

McGee’s midfield partner Cian McMenamin followed suit with a point of his own to level the sides at 0-11 each.

But Derry never convinced. They’re opponents had the bit between their teeth and, roared on by a vociferous travelling support, produced the winning move of the contest. The Tír Conaill won a very debatable free, not their first of the day either, which found its way to Karl Joseph Molloy who ghosted through Derry’s rearguard to fire home the game winning goal in the 60th minute.

The Oakleafers had enough time to work another score but their error prone second half continued to dog them right to the end with Donegal running out three-point winners.

Derry: Ben O’Connor, Fionn McEldowney, Eoin Scullion, Eoin McCracken, Conall Higgins, James Murray, Danny McDevitt, Patrick McMullan, Odhran Crozier, Johnny McGuckin (0-1), Ryan McNicholl (0-5, 4f), Cahir Spier (0-2), Shea Burt, Eoin Higgins, Ciaran Chambers (0-2). Subs: C Coyle (0-1) for J Murray (H/T), O Murphy for S Burt (40), L Calvert for C Higgins (50), J Boyle for E Higgins(54), R McAleese for C Spier (58)

Donegal: Zach Conlon, Shaun McMenamin, Niall Prenderville, Donal Gallagher (0-2f), Finbarr Roarty, Eoghan Kelly, Sean McLaughlin, Cian McMenamin (0-2), Lorcan McGee (0-2), Karl Joseph Molloy (1-1), Conor McGinty, Odhran Doherty, Daithi Gildea (0-2, 1f), Ryan Barrett (0-1f), Seanan Carr. Subs: M McDevitt (0-1) for S Carr (H/T), P Coyle for R Barrett (50), J Long for O Doherty (55)

Referee: Conall Roberts (Antrim)