Hurling - Lacklustre Derry edge out Donegal

Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Q/F Steven Doherty reports from Celtic Park Derry 3-17 Donegal 5-07

DERRY have progressed to the Ulster Championship semi-final after defeating local rivals Donegal by four points at Celtic Park yesterday. And while Tom McLean’s team never looked in any real danger, he will be disappointed with his side conceding five goals against a very depleted yet fiesty Donegal outfit. An anaemic first half, where both sides never really found anywhere near championship intensity, favourites Derry looked to be cruising to a comfortable win leading 1-11 to 1-4 as the interval approached. Midfielder Kevin Hinphey led the way for the home side scoring Derry’s goal and a further two points. However, a second goal from Donegal’s Kevin Campbell reduced Tir Chonaill’s half-time deficit to just four points. An Alan Grant goal 17 seconds after the restart looked to have given Derry the jolt they needed but, just like the first half, they struggled to get out of second gear. Second best for most of the contest, Donegal’s ability, and Ronan McDermott’s in particular, to find the back of the net kept their interest in the game. Brothers Kevin and Liam Hinphey were Derry’s stand out performers, while all of the home side’s forwards managed to work the scoreboard. Impact sub Brendy Douban’s fine solo run and goal stretched Derry’s lead to seven points and looked to have won the game for Derry on the hour mark. However, two goals in the latter phases of the game from Donegal’s best player McDermott took the gloss off the score as far as the home side were concerned, if not quite threatening an upset. Late points from Alan Grant, Deaglan Foley and Eugene McGuckin steadied Derry nerves with the Oak Leafers running out four point winners. Derry will now face Down in the semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg.

Scorers – Derry: Kevin Hinphey 1-4, Brendan Douban 1-0, Alan Grant 1-1, Paddy Henry 0-3f, Ruairi Convery 0-2 (0-1f), Deaglan Foley 0-2 (0-1f), Aaron Kelly 0-1, Michael Warnock 0-1, Eugen McKenna 0-1, Sean McGuigan 0-1Jonny O’Dwyer 0-1

Donegal: Ronan McDermott 3-2, Kevin Campbell 2-2 (0-2f), Sean McVeigh 0-2 (0-1f), Enda McDermott 0-1

Derry: Daryl McDermott, Michael Warnock, Conor Quinn, Sean McCullagh (c), Anton Rafferty, Liam Hinphey, Ruairi McCloskey, Kevin Hinphey, Brendan Quigley, Sean McGuigan, Ruairi Convery, Patrick Henry, Jonathan O’Dwyer, Alan Grant, Aaron Kelly Subs: Tiernan McCloskey for B Quigley (53), Deaglan Foley for P Henry (55), Brendan Douban for A Kelly (56), Eugene McGuckin for R McCloskey (63), Michael Conway for K Hinphey (67)

Donegal: Paul Burns, Martin McGrath, Brendan Tourish, Jack O’Loughlin, Pauric Doherty, Joe Boyle, Niall Cleary, Danny Cullen (c), Sean Curran, Stephen Gillespie, Sean McVeigh, Enda McDermott, Kevin Campbell, Ronan McDermott, Bernard Lafferty Subs: Donal McLoughlin for N Cleary (7)

Referee: James Clarke (Cavan) FULL MATCH REPORT & PHOTOS in DERRY NEWS and COUNTY DERRY POST