Derry U20s off to a winning start

Derry 2-14

Down 1-9

Goals from Oisin Doherty and Johnny McGuckian got Derry’s u-20 campaign off to a winning start against champions Down in Newry on Saturday.

The home side, who finished with 14 men, hit a late consolation goal from David Ruddy.

Derry were without injured duo Patrick McGurk and Danny McDermott before losing Niall O’Donnell.

The Ballinderry man was replaced after 12 minutes as a precaution with a tight hamstring.

The visitors were 0-4 to 0-0 ahead before Conleth McGrogan was shown a black card with 10 minutes to the break.

Down were soon level but it was Oisin Doherty’s goal that shot them into a 1-5 to 0-4 interval lead.

Derry were out the blocks in the fourth quarter with points from Eoin Higgins before a Johnny McGuckian goal ended the game as a contest.

Doherty blasted a chance over the bar before Derry had a later goal chance blocked with a series of shots off the crossbar, post and a Down defender.

A high ball into the defence wasn’t dealt with late on and Ruddy finished Down’s only goal of the game.

Derry: Callum Armstrong; Fionn McEldowney, Conal Heron (0-1), Rory Small; Conleth McGrogan (0-3), Dara McPeake, James Murray; Ruairi Forbes, Tommy Rogers (0-1); Cahir Spiers, Niall O'Donnell (0-1), Johnny McGuckin (1-0); Rory McGill, Ryan McNicholl, Oisin Doherty (1-5, 3f)
Subs: Eoin Higgins (0-3, 2f), Cathair Bradley, Odhran Murphy, Ronan Walls, Shea McCann

Down: Jack Mulgrew; Dan Rafferty, David Ruddy (1-0), Mark McSwiggan; Cian Cunningham, Finn Murdock, Luke Quinn (0-1); Tom McCarroll, Senan Carr (0-3, 2f); PJ McKeown, Ronan Kelly, Eoin Loughran (0-4); Nathan Rogers, Emmet Rodgers, Matthew Murray
Subs: Dara Mussen (0-1), Tom Gilroy, Micheal Murdock, Ryan Quinn, Brian Grant

Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone)