Down hold nerve after Derry stage a revival

DR MCKENNA CUP/Down 1-15 Derry 1-13:DOWN WERE made to sweat for their knockout place after a spirited Derry fightback at Celtic Park yesterday.

For a long time it had looked like they would coast to victory. When half-time substitute Marty Clarke goaled at the second attempt from a penalty and then nailed a 43rd minute 45, the visitors led by 1-11 to 0-5.

A positional reshuffle by Derry saw Joe Diver move to midfield and his towering presence helped turn the game. In fact with five minutes to play a Séamus Bradley goal had helped the hosts to level matters at 1-13 apiece at which stage Damien Cassidy’s side looked the more likely winners. But Down regained their composure and two late scores from Paul McComiskey sealed victory.

Derry opened the scoring through Bradley but with Ronan Murtagh showing well in attack Down led by 0-6 to 0-2 after 20 minutes with scores from John Clarke, Murtagh (two) Mark Poland, Calum King and Aidan Carr. The other Derry score came from Liam Hinphey. Derry pulled a score back through Raymond Wilkinson but that was a temporary respite as McComiskey, Murtagh and Mark Poland stretched the lead to 0-9 to 0-3 before Charlie Kielt saw Derry have the final word before the interval.

Derry’s Mark Lynch opened the second-half scoring but Conor McGinn quickly replied for Down. With Marty Clarke slotting home the rebound after Martin Dunne had saved his penalty and then converting that 45, James McCartan’s men seemed home and hosed.

But Cassidy’s reshuffle saw Derry get a foothold, five points from Bradley, Fergal Doherty, Aidy McLaughlin, Andrew McCartney and Gerard O’Kane saw Derry back in contention with 15 minutes to go. John Clarke’s point steadied Down but Derry’s Wilkinson won a ball that allowed Bradley to flick to the Down net to close the gap to 1-12 to 1-11.

A John Clarke free doubled Down’s lead but Derry’s Fergal Doherty’s long-range sideline hopped over the bar and McLaughlin punished a poor kickout with the leveller. Down found some composure and McComiskey pointed from play and then a free to secure the win.

DOWN: D Alder; D McCartan, Conor Garvey, D Rafferty; M Poland, K McKernan, A Carr (0-1, free); C King (0-1), A Rodgers; R Murtagh (0-3), M Poland (0-2), P Fitzpatrick; J Clarke (0-3, two frees), M Magee, C McGinn (0-1). Subs: P McComiskey (0-2, one free) for Magee (28 mins), M Clarke (1-2, one 45, one free) for R Murtagh (half-time), C Laverty for McGinn (50 mins), S Parr for A Carr (70 mins).

DERRY: M Dunne; M McGoldrick, G O’Kane (0-1), J O’Kane; C Kielt (0-2), M Lynch (0-1, free), B McGuigan; F Doherty (0-2), L Hinphey (0-1); A McCartney (0-1), R Wilkinson (0-1), E Lynn; S Bradley (1-2), J Diver, K O’Neill. Subs: A McLaughlin (0-2) for O’Neill (half-time), B Mullan for J O’Kane (48 mins), Paul Bradley for McGuigan (50 mins).

Referee: S McLaughlin (Donegal).