Two second half goals see Derry fall to championship defeat in Galway

Galway 2-14

Derry 0-15

Two second half goals saw Derry fall to another championship defeat to Galway on Saturday in Salthill.

With the sides level at 0-4 each, a Gareth McKinless red card saw Derry face an even steeper mountain with Sean Kelly’s goal early in the second half putting Galway in the box seat.

The Oakleafers must now pick up the pieces ahead of Armagh’s visit to Celtic Park.

Derry began without Eoin McEvoy and Conor Doherty but settled well in the early stages with points from Paul Cassidy and Emmett Bradley.

Johnny Heaney and Tierney had Galway level before McGuigan nosed Derry ahead.

In a half that saw Derry waste 10 chances, Galway began to take control and the 21st minute red card for Gareth McKinless , after a stamp on Damien Comer, changed tact.

It allowed John Daly to drop off and with Connor Gleeson allowed to go short, and Galway went on to have a spell of control.

Rob Finnerty hit three points and Derry were lucky to survive a goal chance when Heaney fed Finnerty on the backdoor cut.

Daly opened a three-point lead before McGuigan’s first from played left the interval score 0-8 to 0-6 in Galway’s favour.

Derry were level early in second half with Glass and Lachlan Murray popping over scores.

Then came the second hammer blow. When Matthew Tierney intercepted a kick-out, Sean Kelly was denied by Diarmuid Baker before palming the rebound to the net.

With the extra man and John Daly ferrying the short kick-outs forward, Galway had control.

Derry had a lifeline  when trailing 1-13 to 0-13. Ciaran McFaul’s ball inside was fielded by Shane McGuigan but he shot straight at Connor Gleeson. Seconds later Shane Walsh’s pass but Céin D’Arcy on the way to palming the insurance goal for Galway.

Odhrán Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Chrissy McKaigue; Diarmuid Baker; Gareth McKinless, Brendan Rogers (0-1), Ciaran McFaul (0-2); Conor Glass (0-1), Emmett Bradley (0-1); Ethan Doherty (0-1), Declan Cassidy, Paul Cassidy (0-1); Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan (0-4, 2f), Lachlan Murray (0-3)

Subs: Donncha Gilmore (0-1) for D Cassidy (HT), Eunan Mulholland for N Toner (48), Cahir McMonagle for  L Murray (67), Shea Downey for C McFaul (70),   

 C McFaul (15), E Bradley (70), C McKaigue (76)

Red card: G McKinless (21)

Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly (0-2), Liam Silke; Paul Conroy (0-3), John Maher; Johnny Heaney (0-1), Mattie Tierney (0-1), Sean Kelly (1-0); Rob Finnerty (0-4, 2f), Damien Comer, Shane Walsh (0-2)

Subs: Céin D’Arcy (1-0) for D Comer (46), Cillian McDaid for J Maher (58), Daniel O’Flaherty for S Kelly (62), Cillian Ó Curraoin for R Finnerty (64), Liam Ó Conghaile (0-1) for J Heaney (66)

Yellow card: D O’Flaherty (66)

Attendance: 7,602

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)