Reigning champions Derry advance to All-Ireland semis with victory over Dublin

Derry 0-18

Dublin 2-10

Reigning champions Derry advanced to the last four of the All-Ireland race with victory over Dublin on Saturday in Kingspan Breffni.

It was a repeat of last year’s win over the Dubs in the semi-final with Turlough McHugh, Eamon Young and James Sargent kicking four points each.

Derry opened the scoring with Sargent before Dylan Rocks and Young made it 0-3 to 0-0 after seven minutes.

Dublin, who opted to play with the breeze, then hit the net on the next attack. A long kick-out was hoovered up by Josh Kennedy and the ball ended up with Senan Bolger on the run before finishing his six goal of the season.

McHugh and Donach Magee traded points before Derry got a hold of the game. Sargent pulled a goal chance wide but Grant made two scores for Young as the Ulster champions pushed 0-8 to 1-4 ahead by half-time.

Two Sargent points had Derry ahead before Dublin hit their second goal (0-10 to 2-4) when Rían Doherty took a free short to Magee to buried to the net.

McHugh and Rocks added scores for Derry but Dublin’s possession from short kick-outs gave them a passage back into the game.

With eight minutes to go, Magee sliced the Dubs into the lead, 2-9 to 0-14, before Derry dug in once again.

Forcing Dublin to go long, the scrapped for the breaks with Sargent an d Grant adding scores to book their semi-final spot.

Derry will face of the quarter-final between Kerry and Roscommon in the last four.

Scorers

Derry: E Young, J Sargent (1f), T McHugh (0-4 each), D Rocks 0-3, D McGuckin, R Biggs and L Grant 0-1 each

Dublin: D Magee 1-3, S Bolger 1-1, R Doherty 0-3f, H O’Neill (f), R Ennis, K McGinnis 0-1 each

 J McCloy; P O’Kane, R Canavan, R Collins; L Grant, C Ó Mianáin, D McGuckin; J Sargent, C McBride; E Young, T McHugh, C Hargan; C McCullagh, R Biggs, D Rocks

Subs: P Haran for R Collins (HT), G Dillon for C McCullagh (42), C Rocks for R Biggs (42), C McNally for P O’Kane (54)

Yellow cards: C McBride (18), P Haran (40)

 F McDonnell; S Devane, F Costello, J O’Keefe; J Kennedy, D O’Sullivan, R Ennis; K McGinnis, K Costello; C Loughran, D Magee, P Copeland; S Bolger, H O’Neill, R Doherty

Subs: J McNair for P Copeland (56), F Lydon for R Doherty (58), J Comiskey for S Bolger (62)

Referee: M McNally (Monaghan)