City of Derry suffer defeat in Junior Cup Final at Kingspan Stadium

City of Derry 17

Dromore 30

City of Derry players will wonder just how things went so badly wrong as they were well beaten by a hungrier Dromore side in the Junior Cup final at Kingspan Park.

The club’s first Junior Cup final in 14 years proved to be memorable only for the achievement of getting there, as they were deservedly beaten, behind for 78 of the 80 minutes to a much stronger opponent, who were well deserved winners.

This was everything that Richard McCarter didn’t want from his team on a big stage such as this, the players producing arguably their most disappointing performance of the season when it mattered most. Whether the occasion got to them, or they were unable to push themselves one final time at the end of a trying campaign, this is a game everyone in green and black will want to forget. Two tries towards the end at least gave them some reward, but the game was long over as a contest, a thoroughly disappointing day ending in a painful defeat at Kingspan.

Enthusiastic

Dromore, roared on by an enthusiastic support, were not prepared to waste any time in this cup final, and they stunned City of Derry by taking the lead with their first attack, Andrew Rutledge allowed too much space tight to the left wing, and he cut inside to go over with no one in green and black able to stop him. Lee Steenson sent the conversion wide, but Dromore were off and running.

Dromore threatened to run all over Derry in the aftermath of that try, and they pushed Derry right back to their line again, before Sam Duffy was yellow carded for saying something to the referee. In terms of starts to a cup final, it could hardly have gotten any worse for Richard McCarter and his players.

Derry then needed an unbelievable tackle from Stephen Corr on the right wing to prevent Brian McClearn a try, Corr using every inch of his frame to reach out and get enough on the winger to take him off his stride.

But Dromore were flying and Derry were reeling and they fell further behind on 13 minutes when full back Adam McDonald ran clear straight down the middle to score. There was no missing the conversion this time with Steenson making it 12-0.

In the rare moments that Derry got some reprieve with possession, they made the wrong decision, with McCarter a very frustrated figure on the sidelines, and when Steenson then increased the lead to 15-0 with a penalty on 23 minutes, it looked as if Derry were in serious danger of being out of this contest by half time.

A faint ray of hope shone on City of Derry in the final 10 minutes of the half as Alex McDonnell got them on the scoreboard with a penalty, moments after Dromore were put down to 14 with a yellow card to Ryan Hughes.

But even with that extra man, Derry’s defence didn’t improve and Steenson had the freedom of Kingspan to run through just two minutes later. Killene Thorton raced across to stop him at the last moment, but couldn’t do enough and a delighted Steenson vociferously celebrated his score as he bundled over the line.

Half Time 3-20

The next score in this game was huge, and there was little time for McCarter to gee up his players, with the teams back on the pitch after just five minutes. The story of the game didn’t change however, as Dromore looked more dangerous and Brian McClearn raced over within six minutes to put what was surely an insurmountable difference between the teams at 3-27, even with 30 minutes still to play.

Derry’s misery continued in waves, with substitute Gary McKinley then yellow carded, but Dromore did have the prospect of playing the final 20 minute with 14 men when Ryan Hughes saw red for a second yellow card. If Derry were to get back into this game, they had to make the most of that advantage.

Yet it was Dromore who still surged onto the front foot, and Steenson hit another successful penalty to make it 3-30 in the aftermath of that dismissal.

Derry finally got their try with just eight minutes remaining when David Lapsley ran through to give Alex McDonnell an easy conversion, what looked like a consolation only with too much too do on the scoreboard. However, Brian McClearn then saw yellow, leaving Dromore to finish with 13 and there was still time to at least put some respect on the scoreboard.

They did manage one further try, Killene Thorton scoring in added time at the end, and McDonnell followed up with an impressive conversion. But the final whistle soon followed to start the celebrations for the players in blue.

For City of Derry and McCarter, reflections on a very disappointing day begin.

Teams

City of Derry: 1 Fearghus Canning, 2 Cathal Cregan, 3 Sam Duffy, 4 Cein McColgan, Tiarnan Dillon, Tiarnan Thornton, Jake McDevitt, Stephen Millar, Jamie Millar, Alex McDonnell, Jack Beattie, David Lapsley, David Graham, Ross McLaughlin, Killene Thornton.

(Replacements) Adam Marley, Tom Cameron, Gary McKinley, Ryan Higgins, Simon Logue.

Dromore: 1 Adam Hanna, 2 Rory Stewart, 3 Andrew Black, 4 Ross Stewart, 5 Adam McDonald, 6 Matty McMaster, 7 Richard Dickson, 8 Ryan Hughes, 9 Lee Steenson, 10 Aaron Stewart, 11 Andrew Rutledge, 12 Josh Brame, 13 Dean Dillon, 14 Brian McClearn, 15 Adam McDonald.

(Replacements) Mark Hylands, Ben Russell, Ben Carey, Jack Dillon, Josh Quigley.

Referee: Chris Cahoon