TG4 All Ireland Junior Football Championship
Derry 1-15
London 1-6
IT was a rare championship victory for Derry on Sunday as they turned in a highly impressive second half performance to overcome London in Ballymaguigan.
This was only their third championship victory (Limerick 2018 and Antrim 2021) since winning the Ulster title back in 2018. The display was in complete contrast from the defeat to Fermanagh two weeks ago in the Ulster final. A number of personnel changes to the starting side and those players had a huge impact with Ciara McGurk the anchor in defence at number six while Caoimhe O’Kane excelled at midfield and up front both Cara Donnelly and Orla McGeough also added to the overall performance.
There was a better structure about Derry and a hunger about them from the minute the ball was thrown in as they went straight at their visitors. However, poor shooting and taking the wrong decisions let them down in the opening half and they went in trailing by two. However, within minutes of the resumption they had the game turned around and they went on to outscore London 1-9 to 0-1 in a blistering second half display.
Derry struggled against Fermanagh to gain possession from their kickout, but on Sunday the movement to give Ellie Conway options was much more improved. As mentioned McGurk at centre back kept the defence tight and on their toes and controlled that area. O’Kane was joy to watch throughout and the movement up front always allowed them to keep London pinned back.
From the throw-in O’Kane showed her intent as she created a glorious goal chance for McGeough but she blazed wide after 15 seconds. They hit the upright and also dropped three efforts short before it was London that got the opening score on their first attack with Aoife O’Neill landing a free on five minutes. Emma Doherty levelled and while O’Neill edged London back in front, Derry had the lead by the 12th minute with Dara McKeever, Cara Donnelly and McGeough all on target.
Derry were the better side but London struck for a goal on the 15 minute mark when Aoife McLaughlin hit the net. O’Neill with a free stretched the lead before McGeough pointed for Derry. O’Neill had a further brace from frees before the break while Donnelly had one for Derry as London took a 1-5 to 0-6 lead in at the break.
The start to the second half saw Derry take complete control. O’Kane pointed and then from the resultant kickout they had the ball in the net. McGeough pouncing on the loose kickout and cooly slotting the ball over the retreating ‘keeper, Sally Farrell, into the net. Emma Doherty with a brace saw the home side move four clear.
They were spraying the ball around confidently and London were not fit to handle them. Attack after attack rained in, Annie Kilpatrick, Anna Martin and a super point from McKeever saw them hit an unanswered 1-6 in the third quarter. Both sides began to make a number of chances and with it scores dried up a little.
With six minutes remaining McGeough brought her tally to 1-3 before her club mate and substitute Leah McGonagle landed a fine point. London got their only score of the half a minute into added time but the final say went to Erin Doherty on her home pitch to wrap up a very good afternoon for the Derry side and a nine point victory, a swing of 20 points from last year’s clash between the sides when London won 2-12 to 1-4, although just five of that original side remain.
The Oakleaf girls will know much tougher days ahead beginning with a trip to Fermanagh at the weekend, a game that will offer them a chance to show that they are a better side then the Ulster final display. On this showing they are, and this win will give them confidence and hope they can produce another good performance.
Derry: Ellie Conway; Hannah Mullan, Blaithin Donnelly, Joanne Corr; Sarah Hargan, Ciara McGurk, Megan Devine; Caoimhe O’Kane (0-1), Annie Kilpatrick (0-1); Erin Doherty (0-1), Orla McGeough (1-3), Anna Martin (0-1); Emma Doherty (0-3, 2f), Cara Donnelly (0-2), Dara McKeever (0-2).
Subs: Leah McGonagle (0-1) for C Donnelly, Ciara Scullion for Kilpatrick, Lea Casey for Martin, Grace McKenna for Hargan, Orlaith McGeough for Mullan.
London: Sally Farrell; Anne Spain, Aoife Ryan, Martha Jordan; Ciara Flanagan, Leah Harold, Abbie Sexton; Eimear Alcorn (0-1), Mary Adegbamiye; Lillian Sheehy, Aoife O’Neill (0-5,f), Caoimhe McMenamin; Emma Clarke, Aoife McLaughlin (1-0), Denise Doherty-Skehill.
Subs: Niamh McCann for Sexton, Erin Creedon for McMenamin, Nicole for Spain, Michaela McCarthy for Harrold
