Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship quarter-final: Derry 2-15 Antrim 0-1
DERRY eased their way into the last four with a comfortable win over Antrim on Saturday afternoon in Owenbeg.
From goalkeeper Jack McCloy plucking a late shot above the crossbar to substitute Lee O’Neill adding a point, Derry were in control.
The Oak Leafers built their foundations at midfield in Antrim’s kick-outs. Four were plucked by the impressive James Sargent. When goalkeeper Nagle varied wings, there was still a red and white jersey hoovering up the break. And even when Antrim opted to go short, Derry turned them over and went on the break.
In five championship games to date, Derry have conceded a paltry 0-8 and haven’t been challenged. The concern of being undercooked is coupled with their continued wastefulness with 12 wides following on from missed chances against Fermanagh.
Derry were without midfielder Cahal McKaigue (ankle) who is still a few weeks away and Conall Higgins wasn’t risked after tightening up during training in midweek.
It was a wind-assisted Antrim who found Liam Lynn in for a half goal chance in the first attack before pacy defender Finbar Murray made up the ground to close him down.
John Boyle opened the scoring with a point before Derry hit the first goal of the game. It started and ended with Eamon Young who forced a turnover at midfield. The ball went through the hands of Johnny McGuckian and Oisin Doherty before Young slotted to the net.
Derry’s control of the midfield sector continued. A Sargent catch led to the Lavey man kicking a fine score.
Darach McGonigle, Ger Dillon (free) and skipper Fionn McEldowney added points as Derry went in 1-9 to 0-0 ahead at the break.
Antrim were on the attack from the throw in, but a failed attack resulted in a Derry break and a McGonigle shot kissing the inside of the post before dropping over.
A free from Callum Gribbin was the Saffrons’ only score of the game in the 40th minute before Derry bagged their second goal.
It was an excellent team move. McCloy’s kick was fielded by Sargent. Cahir Spiers was involved in the transition and after a swift passing move, Doherty finished to the net.
Derry could’ve added further goals but for Sonny Doyle’s block on Doherty and goalkeeper Nagle making a brilliant full-length save to deny Spiers.
McGonigle, Boyle and Tommy Rogers tagged on points as Derry eased into a semi-final clash with Donegal on Saturday.
Derry: J McCloy; R Small, F Murray, L Grant; C Spiers, F McEldowney (0-1), O Campbell; T Rogers (0-1), J Sargent (0-1); E Young (1-3, 0-2 frees), G Dillon (0-1 free), J McGuckian (0-1); J Boyle (0-3), D McGonigle (0-3), O Doherty (1-0)
Subs: G McIvor for O Campbell (41), L O’Neill (0-1) for J McGuckian (41), P Birt for G Dillon (48), KB Mullan for L Grant (48), D McGuckin for J Sargent (48)
Antrim: S Nagle; D Oglesby, S Doyle, F Close; C Ward, J Harney, R McKeever; C Gribbin (0-1 free), M McKenna; E Walsh. D Quinn, L Lynn; JJ Higgins, S Burns, J Blaney
Subs: C Johnston for L Grant (25), C McEldowney for M McKenna (H-T), S McCann for J Blaney (43), D McGurk for E Walsh (53), C O’Connell for R McKeever (58)
Yellow cards: D Quinn (7), L Lynn (12), C Johnston (47), S Doyle (63)
Referee: M Dorrian (Donegal)
Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship quarter-final: Cavan 2-7 Donegal 1-11
Long-time leaders Donegal produced a storming fightback at Kingspan Breffni to seal their place in this year’s Ulster MFC semi-final.
The winners-elect trailed by 0-7 to 2-7 with 54 minutes on the clock before a late surge climaxed with Shane Callaghan arrowing over the winning point two minutes into added-on time.
In a very poor first half played in perfect conditions, Donegal were much the better team and weren’t flattered by their 0-5 to 0-2 interval lead with the high-fielding Lorcan McGee hugely influential.
Cavan were a transformed team on the restart though and they notched the first four points in as many minutes to edge into the lead (0-6 to 0-5) for the first time in the game.
Things got even better for the blues with a fine goal (50) by Dylan Edwards propelling Cavan into a two point lead.
And when Ben Tully’s free from 48 metres sailed all the way into the Donegal net to give Cavan a 2-7 to 0-7 lead with just six minutes of normal time left, it seemed like the game was Cavan’s to lose.
As things panned out, the blues did lose their way with Donegal sub Tiernan Ward making a particular impact as Oisin Scanlan’s goal (59) was added to by points from Danny Brown, Darragh Hennigan and, finally, Callaghan’s winer.
Cavan: L Bell; P Shannon, J Tynan, F Brady; L Allison, C McAvinney, A Shekleton; B Tully (1-1), E Ward (0-1); J Shehu (0-1), R Nwaneri, D Edwards (1-0); O Madden, B O’Hara, D Noonan (0-1)
Subs: A Hill for O Madden (h-t); J Whyte (0-1) for B O’Hara (h-t); A Metlovas for R Nwaneri (44); J Clarke for D Noonan (49).
Donegal: P McBride; D Gallagher, J Gribben, C McCrea; F Roarty (0-1), D Hennigan (0-1), L Clerkin (0-1); O Scanlan (1-0), L McGee (0-3); J Hegarty (0-1), S Callaghan (0-2), E Scott; D Mulholland, C McCahill (0-1), E Gallagher.
Subs: T Ward for D Mulholland (42); M Campbell for J Hegarty (49); S Ellison for E Gallagher (57); G Doherty for T Ward (63); R Maher for S Callaghan (63).
Ref: D Boylan (Monaghan)