ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER-FINAL
Derry 1-13 Sligo 0-15
Michael McMullan in Ballybofey
DERRY minors needed to pull out all the stops to see off a determined Sligo challenge in Saturday’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final. The Ulster champions now face the winners of Monday's quarter-final between Dublin and Clare.
Damian McErlain’s side amassed a staggering 16 wides against the more economical westerners who had full-forward Red Óg Murphy in irresistible form with a tally of 11 points.
Derry were without Lorcan McWilliams, Conor McCluskey and Simon McErlain due to injury since their Ulster Final win over Cavan.
McCluskey came on at half-time to curb the class of Murphy, McErlain added a point and once again Callum Brown was a mammoth addition to the midfield sector.
Richie Mullan scored the game’s first score with a neat point after a period of patient play. Sligo’s ability to hit Derry on the break was causing problems and Luke Towey drew a foul and Murphy pushed Sligo ahead.
In a tight opening spell, Paudi McGrogan won possession from a kick-out; Oisin McWilliams and Paddy Quigg setup Tiarnan McHugh for a score but Derry hit four wides in the first quarter.
Another Murphy free and a Ciaran O’Dowd point saw Sligo 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 10 minutes. Straight from the kick-out Oisin McWilliams had a mark and McHugh played in Declan Cassidy for a score. Oisin McWilliams (free), Paddy Quigg and Ben McCarron were guilty of further wides but O’Dowd and Brett did the spadework for a brilliant Barry Gorman score.
Despite Derry struggling on kick-outs they still managed to engineer any possession into scoring chances but the Sligo defending forced Derry into pot shots.
A close range Oisin McWilliams free and another Richie Mullan score kept Derry in touch. But Sligo pulled clear again and after 30 minutes led 0-10 to 0-5. A left footed point from Oisin McWilliams gave Derry a glimmer but Paddy Quigg missed a free to reduce the gap to three points.
Half-time: Sligo 0-10 Derry 0-6
After the interval Derry registered another wide and Barry Gorman kicked a score to open up a five point lead. The tide turned and with three points in as many minutes from McWilliams, Quigg and McErlain, Derry burst into life.
Their comeback was complete when Richie Mullan showed the composure to finish to the Sligo net after 43 minutes in a move that began with a brilliant Sean McKeever tackle back in defence.
With Derry ahead (1-10 to 0-12) for the first time since the second minute, Odhran Quinn and Quigg edged Derry further ahead.
Still Sligo showed their resilience and with one minute of normal time remaining Murphy had Sligo level again. Derry still had to live dangerously when midfielder Gorman hit the top of the post with a chance to win the game.
With Callum Brown turning the screw, Derry went on the attack again and Quigg free put the Oakleafers ahead as Derry held on for a hard-earned win.
Derry now face the winners of Dublin or Clare in Croke Park on Sunday, August 27. Cavan saw off Galway (1-11 to 0-11) and play Kerry in the other semi-final.
Derry: Oran Hartin, Oran McGill, Sean McKeever, Fergal Mortimer, Odhran Quinn (0-1), Dara Rafferty, Conleth McShane, Paudi McGrogan, Oisin McWilliams (0-4, 2f), Paddy Quigg (0-3, 2f), Richie Mullan (1-2), Declan Cassidy (0-1), Ben McCarron, Tiarnan McHugh (0-1), Cormac Murphy.
Subs: Conor McCluskey for C Murphy (HT), Simon McErlain (0-1) for D Cassidy (HT), Callum Brown for C McShane (47), Mark McGrogan for T McHugh (50), Martin Bradley for D Rafferty (54), Conor Quinn for O Quinn (64),
Sligo: Alan Davey, Evan Lyons, Brian Cox, James Weir, Karl McKenna, Evan Lavin, Oisín Conlon, Niall Colsh, Barry Gorman (0-2), Roland Anderson, Luke Towey, Ciarán O’Dowd (0-1), Conall Ryan, Red Óg Murphy (0-11, 6f), Cián Brett (0-1).
Subs: Oisín Higgins for R Anderson (38), Conan Marren for C Ryan (44), Ben Tuohy for J Weir (47), Josh Ellis for C O’Dowd (55), James Carroll for C Brett (64),
Ref: James Molloy (Galway)
Further coverage in Monday’s Derry News and Tuesday's County Derry Post.
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