Donegal minors defeat Derry with three late points

Donegal 1-10 Derry 0-8

The strength of Donegal’s bench proved decisive as three late points from substitutes killed off a Derry fight back in this Ulster Minor Championship clash at Celtic Park.

Having lead by 1-6 to 0-3 at half-time, Declan Bonner’s side had seen their advantage cut to two points with 10 minutes to play before Gavin McBride, Stephen McBrearty and Ethan O’Donnell pointed in the 58th, 60th and 61st minutes to secure victory.

This Donegal side has already won the Ulster Minor League and it didn't take them long to underline their class. Wing-back Cian Mulligan opened the scoring with a minute on the clock and John Campbell kicked three successive points to make it 0-4 to 0-0 after six minutes.

Derry came close to a goal when Danny Tallon’s point attempted was fumbled on to the post by Danny Rodgers though Tallon pointed the resulting 45 to get Derry off the mark.

However with Donegal dominating at midfield through Niall Harley and Caolan McGonigle they hit straight back as Jamie Brennan blasted past his marker and rattled the Derry net.

Tallon kicked another long-range score for Derry but Donegal's supremacy continued as Micheal Carroll opted for a fisted point when through and Andrew McClean blazed wide when a simple pass would have given Campbell a tap in.

Jack Doherty registered Derry’s third score but Caolan McGoingle’s 45 gave Donegal a 1-6 to 0-3 interval lead.

Derry got the opening two scores of the second half as Danny Tallon pointed and Liam O'Hara kicked a 45 to close the gap to four points. McGonigle responded with a point from play but a lovely Peter Hagan point and Barry Grant 45 closed the gap to two points at 1-7 to 0-8 and things could have been even tighter had Donegal keeper Danny Rodgers not pulled off two good saves from Conor Glass and Cathal Mulholland.

An unlikely comeback looked on the cards but that late flurry of scores from substitutes, McBride, McBrearty and O’Donell made the game safe for Donegal. DERRY: C Mullan-Young; M McAvoy, P McNeill, C McNeill; D McColgan, N Keenan, C Mulholland; C Glass, J Doherty (0-1); P Hagan (0-1), T Flanagan, O Duffin; B Grant (0-1, free), D Tallon (0-3, 1 45), R McElwee (0-1, free). Subs: D Curran for Duffin (25), S Murphy (0-1) for McColgan (halftime), L O’Hara for Flanagan (half-time), J Donaghy for Grant (45, blood sub reversed 47), S Quinn for McNeill (58 black card). DONEGAL: D Rodgers; D McMonagle, C Gillespie, C Kelly; A McClean, T McClenaghan, C Mulligan (0-1); N Harley, C McGonigle (0-2, 1 45); E Gallagher, L Connor, M Carroll (0-1); J Brennan (1-0), J Campbell (0-3), N Friel.

Subs: C Bonner for McClean (half-time), G McBride (0-1, free) for Campbell (43), S McBrearty (0-1) for Carroll (48) C O’Boyle for Mulligan (49) E O’Donnell (0-1) for Bonner (50). Referee: Ronan Barry (Down).