SUBSTITUTE EMMET MCGUCKIN’S late goal sealed Derry’s victory over Westmeath in today’s Allianz Division 2 FL final in Croke Park.
McGuckin seized on a loose ball in injury-time when he challenged Westmeath goalkeeper Gary Connaughton and blasted the ball to the roof of the net.
The Magherafelt man added a point soon after to seal Derry’s six point triumph as Brian McIver’s side claimed the county’s first league title since their 2008 Division 1 triumph.
James Kielt was hugely impressive for Derry as he swept over 0-4 while man-of-the-match Patsy Bradley, Gerard O’Kane and captain Mark Lynch were other to catch the eye.
Westmeath had drawn level at 0-15 apiece approaching full-time with John Heslin converting a free for his fifth point of the game while Dessie Dolan had made a superb impact in notching three points after being introduced during the second-half.
The first-half had been an excellent affair with Kielt’s late point for Derry ensuring the teams were level at 0-10 apiece at the break. Derry hit the last three points of the opening period with Kielt landing a brace and Raymond Wilkinson also on the mark.
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The Oak Leaf County had started the game in brilliant form with Eoin Bradley wreaking havoc in attack as he swept over four points to put them 0-6 to 0-2 in front by the 17th minute.
Then Westmeath took control of this match and shot over eight points between the 19th and 31st minutes with Enda Lynn grabbing the only point in reply for Derry.
Heslin was very impressive for Westmeath at midfield during that spell and has also fired over 0-4. Ger Egan and Callum McCormack landed a brace of points from their half-forward berths while Denis Glennon lofted over a sublime score from underneath Cusack Stand in the 31st minute.
The match remained evenly contested in the second-half and extra-time looked in the offing when Heslin tied the teams at 0-15 apiece late on. But Derry fired 1-3 without reply in injury-time to seal their triumph.
Derry’s Ryan Bell and David Duffy of Westmeath
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Scorers for Derry: Eoin Bradley (0-2f), James Kielt 0-4 each, Emmett McGuckin 1-1, Ryan Bell 0-2 (0-1f), Benny Heron (0-1 ’45), Sean Leo McGoldrick, Daniel Heavron, Enda Lynn, Raymond Wilkinson, Gerard O’Kane, Ciaran McFaul 0-1 each. Scorers for Westmeath: John Heslin 0-5 (0-4f), Dessie Dolan 0-3, Callum McCormack, Denis Glennon, Ger Egan 0-2 each, Ciaran Curley 0-1.
DERRY: Eoin McNicholl (Glenullin); Aidan McAlynn (Loup), Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil), Gerard O’Keane (Glenullin); Charlie Kielt (Kilrea), Mark Lynch (Banagher), Sean Leo McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua Coleraine); Patsy Bradley (Slaughtneil), Ryan Bell (Ballinderry); Daniel Heavron (Magherafelt), James Kielt (Kilrea), Enda Lynn (Greenlough); Benny Heron (Ballinascreen), Eoin Bradley (Glenullin), Raymond Wilkinson (Ballinderry).
Subs: Colin Devlin (Ballinderry) for Wilkinson (inj) (42), Ciaran McFaul (Glenn) for Heavron (57), Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt) for Bradley (57), Lee Kennedy (Kilrea) for Heron (74).
WESTMEATH: Gary Connaughton (Tubberclair); Mark McCallon (Garrycastle), Kevin Maguire (Caulry), John Gaffey (Garrycastle); Doron Harte (Garrycastle), Paul Sharry (St Loman’s Mullingar), James Dolan (Garrycastle); David Duffy (Shandonagh), John Heslin (St Loman’s Mullingar); Kieran Martin (Maryland), Callum McCormack (Maryland), Denis Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks); Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass), Ciaran Curley (Mullingar Shamrocks), Denis Glennon (Tyrrellspass).
Subs: Dessie Dolan (Garrycastle) for Martin (52), Kieran Gavin (Mullingar Shamrocks) for McCallon (66), Damian Dolan (Caulry) for Corroon (69), Lorcan Smith (Mullingar Shamrocks) for Curley (73).
Derry secure Division 2 league title against Westmeath
Derry 1-18
Westmeath 0-15
SUBSTITUTE EMMET MCGUCKIN’S late goal sealed Derry’s victory over Westmeath in today’s Allianz Division 2 FL final in Croke Park.
McGuckin seized on a loose ball in injury-time when he challenged Westmeath goalkeeper Gary Connaughton and blasted the ball to the roof of the net.
The Magherafelt man added a point soon after to seal Derry’s six point triumph as Brian McIver’s side claimed the county’s first league title since their 2008 Division 1 triumph.
James Kielt was hugely impressive for Derry as he swept over 0-4 while man-of-the-match Patsy Bradley, Gerard O’Kane and captain Mark Lynch were other to catch the eye.
Westmeath had drawn level at 0-15 apiece approaching full-time with John Heslin converting a free for his fifth point of the game while Dessie Dolan had made a superb impact in notching three points after being introduced during the second-half.
The Oak Leaf County had started the game in brilliant form with Eoin Bradley wreaking havoc in attack as he swept over four points to put them 0-6 to 0-2 in front by the 17th minute.
Then Westmeath took control of this match and shot over eight points between the 19th and 31st minutes with Enda Lynn grabbing the only point in reply for Derry.
Heslin was very impressive for Westmeath at midfield during that spell and has also fired over 0-4. Ger Egan and Callum McCormack landed a brace of points from their half-forward berths while Denis Glennon lofted over a sublime score from underneath Cusack Stand in the 31st minute.
The match remained evenly contested in the second-half and extra-time looked in the offing when Heslin tied the teams at 0-15 apiece late on. But Derry fired 1-3 without reply in injury-time to seal their triumph.
Derry’s Ryan Bell and David Duffy of Westmeath
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
DERRY: Eoin McNicholl (Glenullin); Aidan McAlynn (Loup), Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil), Gerard O’Keane (Glenullin); Charlie Kielt (Kilrea), Mark Lynch (Banagher), Sean Leo McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua Coleraine); Patsy Bradley (Slaughtneil), Ryan Bell (Ballinderry); Daniel Heavron (Magherafelt), James Kielt (Kilrea), Enda Lynn (Greenlough); Benny Heron (Ballinascreen), Eoin Bradley (Glenullin), Raymond Wilkinson (Ballinderry).
Subs: Colin Devlin (Ballinderry) for Wilkinson (inj) (42), Ciaran McFaul (Glenn) for Heavron (57), Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt) for Bradley (57), Lee Kennedy (Kilrea) for Heron (74).
WESTMEATH: Gary Connaughton (Tubberclair); Mark McCallon (Garrycastle), Kevin Maguire (Caulry), John Gaffey (Garrycastle); Doron Harte (Garrycastle), Paul Sharry (St Loman’s Mullingar), James Dolan (Garrycastle); David Duffy (Shandonagh), John Heslin (St Loman’s Mullingar); Kieran Martin (Maryland), Callum McCormack (Maryland), Denis Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks); Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass), Ciaran Curley (Mullingar Shamrocks), Denis Glennon (Tyrrellspass).
Subs: Dessie Dolan (Garrycastle) for Martin (52), Kieran Gavin (Mullingar Shamrocks) for McCallon (66), Damian Dolan (Caulry) for Corroon (69), Lorcan Smith (Mullingar Shamrocks) for Curley (73).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
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Derry GAA Division 2 Gaelic Football League Final Triumphant Westmeath GAA