A LATE Derry fightback saw the Ulster champions join tonight’s opponents Tyrone in this weekend’s Dr McKenna Cup semi-final – with Lachlan Murray’s score six minutes into added time sending Armagh out the exit door in the process.
Despite losing by five to Cavan, the Orchardmen looked set to join the Breffnimen in the last four on scoring difference, with a draw in Owenbeg the only result that could derail those ambitions.
And, although the Red Hands had led by five early in the second half, Derry slowly but surely fought their way back to grab a share of the spoils. Rory Gallagher’s men will now face Down in Newry on Sunday (1.30pm), while, Tyrone take on Cavan in Kingspan Breffni on Saturday (5pm).
And Tyrone looked to be going into that date with Cavan on the back of a second victory, only for Murray’s effort to make it 0-10 apiece at the death.
In front of a crowd of 3,327 at Owenbeg, Fergal Logan and Brian Dooher’s men picked up where they left off against Fermanagh, seizing the early initiative in this Section B clash.
Although Conor McCluskey opened the scoring for the Oak Leafs points from Cormac Munroe, Niall Sludden, Conor Meyler and Cathal McShane put the Red Hands into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead just past the 20 minute mark.
Quickfire scores from Niall Toner and Shane McGuigan, from a close range free, reduced the gap to the minimum, but Tyrone came on strong before the break, with two more from McShane either side of a Richie Donnelly effort sending the Red Hands in four up.
Midfielder Brian Kennedy made it 0-8 to 0-3 after the restart, and Tyrone looked in control when McShane made it 0-10 to 0-5 with 18 minutes left on the clock. Derry weren’t done there, though, as McGuigan, a brace from Toner and a Brendan Rogers score heading down the straight left just one in it.
And with the Red Hands holding on, it was Murray who grabbed the vital equalising score to dramatically send both through.
That meant disappointment for Armagh, who may have thought they were home and hosed despite losing by five.
From Cavan’s perspective, they left little doubt, proving too strong in tonight’s Section C showdown on the way to a 1-14 to 1-9 win at Kingspan Breffni.
A Ryan O’Neill goal put the Breffnimen in a commanding 1-2 to 0-1 position 10 minutes in, only for the Orchard to fight back and level it up at half-time, 1-6 to 0-9 – three Rory Grugan frees and two from play for Aidan Nugent doing the damage.
But Cavan rattled off eight unanswered points to take control, and they didn’t look back from there. An Oisin Conaty goal five minutes from the end reduced the deficit to five, but it was a big ask to close the gap at that stage.
There were contrasting fortunes for new bosses Paddy Carr and Vinny Corey in Ballybofey meanwhile, where former Farney stalwart Corey picked up his first victory as Monaghan boss with a 0-15 to 2-7 win.
With Down already through to the last four after topping Section A with back-to-back victories, Donegal kept alive their faint hopes of joining them when Bradley Walsh found the net just three minutes in.
Monaghan kept their cool, though, points from Micheal Bannigan, Sean Jones and Darren McDonnell bringing them level. A Walsh point edged the Tir Chonaill two ahead as half-time neared, but Monaghan took control from then on, rattling off the next four points before the break, braces for Bannigan and Shane Carey doing the damage.
A Luke McGlynn penalty brought the Tir Chonaill level at 2-5 to 0-11 with eight minutes left, only for Bannigan and Jack McCarron to help steady the Monaghan ship, the Farney able to keep Donegal at arm’s reach in a frenetic final few minutes.
