Second half goal blitz sends Derry to defeat in league final at Croke Park

Dublin 4-6

Derry 0-11

Derry fell to their first defeat of 2023 thanks to four second half goals from a rampant Dublin at Croke Park. 

Rory Gallagher's team, who have been defensively sound for the most part this season, were cut apart as goals from Killian O'Gara, Paul Mannion, John Small and Lorcan O'Dell stunned the Ulster champions.

Shane McGuigan, Conor Glass, Padraig McGrogan and Niall Toner got Derry off to a good start as the Oakleafers burst into a 0-4, 0-1 lead.

It was a strong start from Derry and it took Dublin a good while to settle before O’Gara and Small helped Dublin fight back to level at 0-4 apiece.

But Derry responded well with two more points from McGuigan  leaving the visitors 0-6, 0-4 ahead at the break.

It all went spectacularly wrong in the second half however. Just three minutes in, O'Gara rose highest and redirected Fenton's long ball in to the Derry net.

Lee Gannon then added a point before O'Callaghan was fouled by McCluskey for a penalty that substitute Mannion converted and Derry were suddenly chasing the game.

Rather than respond, Derry just crumbled and only two minutes later, O'Dell and Tom Lahiff combined to play in Small who smashed a left footed shot to the net.

It was one-way traffic and Dublin could have had a fourth but Daire Newcombe somehow hit the woodwork when it seemed easier to score.

O'Dell showed him how it was done however as he spied Lynch off his line and punished him with a fourth Dublin goal with two minutes of play left.

Teams and Scorers:

Scorers for Dublin: Killian O'Gara 1-1, John Small 1-1, Paul Mannion 1-0 (pen), Lorcan O'Dell 1-0, Tom Lahiff 0-1, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-1, Brian Fenton 0-1, Lee Gannon 0-1.

Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-6 (0-3f), Paul Cassidy 0-2, Niall Toner 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Glass 0-1, Padraig McGrogan 0-1.

Dublin: David O'Hanlon; Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne, Daire Newcombe; Cian Murphy, John Small, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Colm Basquel, Sean Bugler, Tom Lahiff; Killian O'Gara, Dean Rock, Con O'Callaghan.

Subs: Ciaran Kilkenny for Dean Rock 9, Lorcan O'Dell for Basquel 44, Paul Mannion for O'Gara 44, Niall Scully for Lahiff 55, Ross McGarry for Bugler 68.

Derry: Odhran Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Doherty, Padraig Cassidy, Paul Cassidy; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Niall Toner, Ethan Doherty, Ben McCarron; Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin.

Subs: Lachlan Murray for Heron 35, Shea Downey for Glass 39, Niall O'Donnell for Doherty 47- 52 blood, Matthew Downey for Heron 57, Eoin McEvoy for McGrogan 68, O'Donnell for Rogers 73-f/t.

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).

Derry will now hope to bounce back to winning ways when they begin the defence of their provincial title against Division 3 finalists Fermanagh on Saturday week.