Down 2-17 Derry 1-15
DOWN DUMPED DERRY out of the Ulster SFC Championship with a spirited second-half comeback in Celtic Park this afternoon.
Goals from Donal O’Hare and Mark Poland in the space of seven minutes fuelled Down’s revival as they outscored the hosts by nine points after the break, setting up a semi-final showdown against All-Ireland champions Donegal.
Mark Lynch’s goal in the 32nd minute gave Derry the upper hand at the end of an open and entertaining first period in which all but two scores came from play.
Brian McIver’s side led by four points at the interval, 1-10 to 0-9, and it could have been more but for a brilliant stop by goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh to deny Eoin Bradley.
But it was very much one-way traffic from that point on as Down raced out of the blocks and in the 45th minute, O’Hare palmed home Mark Poland’s pass to level the match for the fourth time at 1-11 apiece.
James Kielt kicked the next score to briefly edge Derry back in front but Down struck again in the 52nd minute, the roles reversed this time as O’Hare squared for Poland who slid in to steer the ball past a helpless Eoin McNicholl.
Derry stuck to their task and when captain Lynch kicked a point with eight minutes to play, they cut the gap to two but couldn’t reel in the visitors as Down kept them at arm’s length in the final minutes.
Derry scorers: J Kielt 0-5; M Lynch 1-1; E Bradley 0-4; B Herron 0-2; C Kielt, E Lynn, B McCallion, all 0-1.
Down scorers: D O’Hare 1-4; M Poland 1-2; K McKiernan 0-4; N Madine 0-3; A Rogers, D Rooney, K King, T Johnston all 0-1.
Derry: Eoin McNicholl; Gerard O’Kane, Chrissy McKaigue, Ryan Scott; Charlie Kielt, Mark Lynch, Brian McCallion; Patsy Bradley, Ryan Bell; Aidan McAlynn, James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Benny Heron, Eoin Bradley, Coilin Devlin.
Down: Brendan McVeigh; Daniel McCartan, Brendan McArdle, Ryan Boyle; Declan Rooney, Peter Turley, Keith Quinn; Ambrose Rogers, Kevin McKiernan; Niall Madine, Mark Poland, Benny Coulter; Donal O’Hare, Kalum King, Conor Laverty.
