Derry retain McKenna Cup with victory over Donegal

Shane McGuigan with the McKenna Cup and his Player of the Match award. Pic by Ramsey Cardy/ Sportsfile

placeholder image — Shane McGuigan with the McKenna Cup and his Player of the Match award. Pic by Ramsey Cardy/ Sportsfile

Derry 0-12

Donegal 0-6

Derry finished with a flouriush to retain their McKenna Cup after an a times feisty encounter woith Donegal on Saturday in Omagh.

Brendan Rogers and Patrick McBrearty saw red when the game boiled over in the 50th minute with Oisin Gallen dismissed for two bookings.

The champions had the breeze at their back but it was a sweet free from Donegal ‘keeper Gavin Mulreany that opened the scoring.

Derry lacked the composure and it took 10 minutes to level matters with the first of four McGuigan frees in the opening half.

After punching down many of the Donegal’s kick-outs, Derry pushed into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to scores from McGuigan and Declan Cassidy.

Cormac Murphy was lively up top for Derry while Ryan McHugh began to control the game and fired over.

Murphy, Gareth McKinless and Diarmuid Baker were involved in a half Derry goal chance that was clawed off the line by Ciaran Moore.

Donegal finished the half with a McBrearty free, for an off the ball tug, leaving the score 0-5 to 0-3 in Derry’s favour.

Paul Cassidy and Niall Toner put Derry further ahead before the sendings off

Daire Ó Baoill hit a score with his firs touch before Conor Doherty landed a vital score for the Oaks.

A foul on Niall Toner saw McGuigan kick Derry 0-10 to 0-5 ahead after 63 minutes.

Niall Loughlin fired over a fine score off his left foot with Ciaran Thompson replying for Donegal.

It was Derry who finished off the game with a Murphy pointy after a long Lynch kick-out over the top to Conor Doherty.

Victory brought Derry their 13th title and sets up an interest championship clash later on in the season.

Derry: Odhrán Lynch; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Chrissy McKaigue; Conor McCluskey, Gareth McKinless, Paudi McGrogan; Conor Doherty (0-1), Brendan Rogers; Donncha Gilmore, Declan Cassidy (0-1), Paul Cassidy (0-1); Niall Loughlin (0-1), Shane McGuigan (0-6f), Cormac Murphy (0-1)

Subs: Niall Toner (0-1) for E McEvoy (HT), Shea Downey for C McCluskey (69)

Red card: B Rogers (50)

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (0-2f); Mark Curran, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Kevin McGettigan; Ryan McHugh (0-1), Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Oisin Caulfield, Ciarán Thompson (0-1); Odhran Doherty, Shane O'Donnell, Ciarán Moore; Patrick McBrearty (0-1f), Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan

Subs: Daire Ó Baoill (0-1) for O Caulfield (48), Ronan Frain for J Brennan (53), Luke McGlynn for S O’Donnell (58), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for O Doherty (58), Stephen McMenamin for M Curran (69)

Yellow cards: O Gallen (58, 66)

Red cards: P McBrearty (50), O Gallen (66)

Referee: Conor Curran (Down)