Ulster U21 Hurling Final - Derry 3-17 Down 1-9
Michael McMullan at Corrigan Park
DERRY won their first Ulster U21 title since 2008 with a win over Down on Wednesday night.
It was a highly impressive second-half performance, with Derry holding Down to just four points.
Manager Collie McGurk played on the first ever Derry team to win the Ulster U21 title, a team managed by his brother Joe, back in 1986. At a rain-swept Corrigan Park, it wasn’t looking promising for this year’s side early on.
It took Derry five minutes to realise they were in the game. Two points from Cormac Coulter and Barry Trainor got Down off the mark inside three minutes.
Daithi Sands passed for Oisin McManus to crash to the roof of the Derry net for a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. It wasn’t looking promising but Derry didn’t panic.
Darragh Cartin replied with two points before Brian Cassidy passed for Odhran McKeever to fire over from close range.
Conor McAllister began to get to grips with midfield. Back in defence Eamon McGill, Seamus Higgins and Shane McGuigan took control of the Down attack. Cormac O’Doherty was operating in a playmaking role at midfield.
With nine minutes to half-time, Conor McAllister made a catch and played in O’Doherty for a point to level the game.
When Derry’s goal came it was a brilliant team move. Higgins won the ball in defence, the play went through John Mullan who thumped the ball long towards Odhran McKeever. Brian Cassidy was alert to the break and after riding a handful of tackles, he drilled to the net after 26 minutes.
Half-time: Derry 1-9 Down 1-5
Down hit two scores after the break but eventually it was the Oakleafers who grabbed control again. Points from Brian Cassidy and Ciaran Steele, now deployed at centre-forward, opened a four point gap once again.
In the 41st minute, Derry put together a swashbuckling five man move with Odhran McKeever slotting over the bar and McGurk’s charges never looked back.
With five minutes remaining, Brian Cassidy was the architect for two Corey O’Reilly goals as Derry eased to glory.
The All-Ireland semi-final will see Derry play Kilkenny on Saturday, August 19 as part of a double header in Thurles.
Derry: Francis McEldowney, Seamus Higgins, Patrick Turner, Paul McNeill, Ruairi McCartney, Ciaran Steele (0-1), Shane McGuigan (0-1), Conor McAllister (0-2), John Mullan, Eamon McGill, Seán Ó Caiside, Odhran McKeever (0-2), Darragh Cartin (0-7, 1 ‘65’, 4f), Cormac O’Doherty (0-1), Brian Cassidy (1-3).
Subs: Corey O’Reilly (2-0) for J Mullan (28), Niall Smyth for C O’Doherty (53), Proinsias Burke for O McKeever (56), Thomas Magee for C Steele (58).
Down: Huw Flynn, Brook Byers, Darragh Mallon, Paul McManus, Mark Fisher (0-2, 1f, 1 ‘65’), Eoin Coulter, Ryan Courtney, Liam Savage, Jordan Doran, Barry Trainor (0-1), Daithi Sands (0-1), Ruairi Campbell, Oisin McManus (1-0), Pearse Óg McCrickard (0-1), Cormac Coulter (0-4, 3f).
Subs: Mark Patterson for P McManus (44), Oisin Duggan for O McManus (58), Niall Breen for C Coulter (58).
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