Derry fight back to claim unlikely draw

Derry 1-13 Antrim 1-13:Derry came back from eight points down to claim a draw on a night when both the Oak Leafers and Antrim exited the McKenna Cup.

The visitors were in charge at half-time after John Laverty’s palmed goal helped them to a 1-7 to 0-5 lead. But with substitute Danny Heavron finding the net in the second half Derry actually could have won it when they had a late penalty shout turned down.

Antrim started the second half well but Derry came roaring back with five scores on the trot from Ryan Bell (two), Charlie Kielt (two) and Mark Lynch and Heavron’s goal in the 54th minute made it 1-12 to 1-11. Enda Lynn levelled matters and with John Carron and Gerard O’Kane trading points the scores were still tied when Bell appeared to be hauled down in the Antrim square.

However the referee ignored Derry’s appeals as the game finished in draw which saw both teams knocked out of the competition.

DERRY: K Farren; R Ferris, D McBride, C McWilliams; C Kielt (0-1), M Lynch (0-2), K Johnston; J McCamley, PJ McCloskey; B McGoldrick, R Bell (0-3, fs), E Lynn (0-2); C Devlin (0-1), L Kennedy, J Kielt (0-2, fs). Subs: Patsy Bradley for McCamley (ht), SL McGoldrick for Johnston (ht), D Heavron (1-1) for McGoldrick (44), G O’Kane (0-1) for Kielt (44), R Wilkinson for Kennedy (59).

ANTRIM: C Kerr; K O’Boyle, P Doherty, N Delargey; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Laverty (1-0); S McVeigh (0-2), J Carron (0-1); C Murray, P Cunningham (0-3, 2fs), B Heron (0-1); R Murray (0-3), M McCann(0-2), M Heron (0-1). Subs: for Cunning ham (51) K Niblock for M Herron (52), C Kelly for Niblock (57), M Pollock for R Murray (61), C Fleming for Cunningham (64). Referee: S McLaughlin (Donegal).