Donegal hold off Derry in hard-fought McKenna Cup semi-final
Donegal 1-18 Derry 1-16
Derry’s late comeback wasn’t’ enough to book a spot in Saturday’s McKenna Cup final.
A Daire Ó Baoill turned game in an unanswered 1-7 Donegal tally after half-time.
Pual Cassidy had a early goal chance saved Mulreaney with Conor McAteer marking then hitting a point.
At the other end Turlough Carr was denied by Shea McGuckin, another debutant between the Derry goals.
Lachlan Murray and Niall Loughlin each hit three points in a very open first half.
Jason McGee hit two points for Donegal with Peadar Mogan hitting one with either foot.
Derry breathed a sigh of relief when a piledriver from Dáire Ó Baoill came off the crossbar and the Oaks led 0-10 to 0-7 at break.
McAteer added a second point but Donegal it the net with an Ó Baoill goal after a shanked Derry kick-out, slotting low under McGuckin in the 34th minute.
Conor Glass and McAteer missed two chances to eat into the goal with Hugh McFadden levelling the game (0-11 to 1-8) after a kick-out was won by McGee.
Donegal pushed into a command six point lead before Ryan Mulholland hit a late consolation goal wit the last kick.
Derry: S McGuckin; C McCluskey, P McGrogan, D Baker; S Downey, G McKinless, M Doherty; C Doherty (0-2), C Glass; C McAteer (0-2), P Cassidy (0-2), E Doherty (0-1); N Toner, N Loughlin (0-3, 2f), L Murray (0-3). Subs: J Doherty for S Downey (HT), S Kearney (0-2) for Toner (47), M Downey (0-1) for McAteer (47), R Ó Mianáin for Glass (50), R Mulholland (1-0) for M Doherty (55)
Donegal: G Mulreany (0-2tpf); C McColgan, B McCole, P O'Hare (0-1); M Campbell, C McGonagle, P Mogan (0-4), J McGee (0-2), M Langan; D Ó Baoill (1-2), T Carr, C Moore (0-1); C O'Donnell, K Gallagher, E McGeehin. Subs: H McFadden (0-1) for K Gallagher (HT), F Roarty for O’Hare (HT), R McHugh (0-1) for Campbell (HT), S Malone for McGee (45), M Curran for McColgan (45), C McCahill (0-2) for Carr (45), D Mac Giolla Bhríde for Langan (49), K Muldoon (0-2) for O’Donnell (49), U Doherty for Mogan (54)
Referee: M Loughran (Tyrone)