DERRY RETAINED THEIR McKenna Cup crown after an, at times, feisty encounter with Donegal on Saturday in Omagh.
Brendan Rogers and Patrick McBrearty saw red when the game boiled over in the 50th minute, with Oisin Gallen also dismissed for two bookings.
It’s a first piece of silverware for Mickey Harte as Derry manager, and yet another McKenna Cup for the Tyrone great as he renewed his rivalry with returning Donegal boss Jim McGuinness.
The champions had the breeze at their back but it was a sweet free from Donegal ‘keeper Gavin Mulreany that opened the scoring.
Derry lacked composure, and it took 10 minutes to level matters with the first of four Shane McGuigan frees in the opening half.
After punching down many of Donegal’s kick-outs, Derry pushed into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to scores from McGuigan and Declan Cassidy.
Cormac Murphy was lively up top for Derry, while Ryan McHugh began to control the game and fired over.
Murphy, Gareth McKinless and Diarmuid Baker were involved in a half Derry goal chance that was clawed off the line by Ciaran Moore.
Donegal finished the half with a McBrearty free — for an off the ball tug — leaving the score 0-5 to 0-3 in Derry’s favour.
Paul Cassidy and Niall Toner put Derry further ahead before Rogers and McBrearty were shown red cards.
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Derry’s Shane McGuigan and Oisin Gallen of Donegal clash. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Daire Ó Baoill hit a score with his first touch before Conor Doherty landed a vital score for the Oaks.
A foul on Niall Toner saw McGuigan kick Derry 0-10 to 0-5 ahead after 63 minutes.
Niall Loughlin fired over a fine score off his left foot with Ciaran Thompson replying for Donegal.
It was Derry who finished off the game with a Murphy point after a long Lynch kick-out over the top to Conor Doherty.
Victory brought Derry their 13th title and sets up an interesting championship clash later on in the season.
Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-6 (6f), Conor Doherty, Declan Cassidy, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Cormac Murphy and Niall Toner 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (0-2f), Ryan McHugh, Ciarán Thompson, Patrick McBrearty (1f) and Daire Ó Baoill 0-1 each.
Derry
Odhrán Lynch
Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Chrissy McKaigue
Conor McCluskey, Gareth McKinless, Paudi McGrogan
Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers
Donncha Gilmore, Declan Cassidy, Paul Cassidy
Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Cormac Murphy
Subs
Niall Toner for E McEvoy (HT)
Shea Downey for C McCluskey (69)
Donegal
Gavin Mulreany
Mark Curran, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Kevin McGettigan
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Silverware for Mickey Harte as Derry retain McKenna Cup against Donegal
Derry 0-12
Donegal 0-6
DERRY RETAINED THEIR McKenna Cup crown after an, at times, feisty encounter with Donegal on Saturday in Omagh.
Brendan Rogers and Patrick McBrearty saw red when the game boiled over in the 50th minute, with Oisin Gallen also dismissed for two bookings.
It’s a first piece of silverware for Mickey Harte as Derry manager, and yet another McKenna Cup for the Tyrone great as he renewed his rivalry with returning Donegal boss Jim McGuinness.
The champions had the breeze at their back but it was a sweet free from Donegal ‘keeper Gavin Mulreany that opened the scoring.
Derry lacked composure, and it took 10 minutes to level matters with the first of four Shane McGuigan frees in the opening half.
After punching down many of Donegal’s kick-outs, Derry pushed into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to scores from McGuigan and Declan Cassidy.
Cormac Murphy was lively up top for Derry, while Ryan McHugh began to control the game and fired over.
Murphy, Gareth McKinless and Diarmuid Baker were involved in a half Derry goal chance that was clawed off the line by Ciaran Moore.
Donegal finished the half with a McBrearty free — for an off the ball tug — leaving the score 0-5 to 0-3 in Derry’s favour.
Paul Cassidy and Niall Toner put Derry further ahead before Rogers and McBrearty were shown red cards.
Daire Ó Baoill hit a score with his first touch before Conor Doherty landed a vital score for the Oaks.
A foul on Niall Toner saw McGuigan kick Derry 0-10 to 0-5 ahead after 63 minutes.
Niall Loughlin fired over a fine score off his left foot with Ciaran Thompson replying for Donegal.
It was Derry who finished off the game with a Murphy point after a long Lynch kick-out over the top to Conor Doherty.
Victory brought Derry their 13th title and sets up an interesting championship clash later on in the season.
Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-6 (6f), Conor Doherty, Declan Cassidy, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Cormac Murphy and Niall Toner 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Gavin Mulreany (0-2f), Ryan McHugh, Ciarán Thompson, Patrick McBrearty (1f) and Daire Ó Baoill 0-1 each.
Derry
Odhrán Lynch
Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Chrissy McKaigue
Conor McCluskey, Gareth McKinless, Paudi McGrogan
Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers
Donncha Gilmore, Declan Cassidy, Paul Cassidy
Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Cormac Murphy
Subs
Donegal
Gavin Mulreany
Mark Curran, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Kevin McGettigan
Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan
Oisin Caulfield, Ciarán Thompson
Odhran Doherty, Shane O’Donnell, Ciarán Moore
Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan
Subs
Referee: Conor Curran (Down).
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Derry Donegal feisty GAA Match Report McKenna Cup Report