GAA: Derry end 24 years of hurt with sensational Ulster SFC win
Derry 1-16 Donegal 1-14 (after extra-time)
Last updated 29th May 2022
You can’t say they didn’t earn it.
Derry produced a battling performance of the highest quality as they dug deep to see off Donegal in extra-time to lift their first Ulster Senior Football Championship title in 24 years.
They’ve been reborn under Rory Gallagher and it seemed like they were destined to win the Anglo-Celt. But they were made to work so hard for it by Donegal.
The level of noise, emotion and joy from the Derry contingent within the 30,000 capacity crowd in Clones was quite the scene to witness.
It was something of war of attrition in the opening 10 minutes as Donegal seemed content to sit back and attempt to block off any routes toward goal for Derry.
That was likely due to how quickly Derry had begun in their previous two matches when they swept aside both Monaghan and All-Ireland champions Tyrone.
However, ironically the opening score of the game was a goal.
It arrived when Ethan Doherty spotted a gap on the left to slip a ball through to Niall Toner. Toner then teed up Niall Loughlin, who held off a challenge to ram the ball home from close range.
After Shane O’Donnell had got Donegal off the mark with a point, Paul Cassidy quickly replied before Shea Downey powered forward to make it 1-2 to 0-1 for the Oak Leaf County.
Shane McGuigan soon converted a close-range free to extend Derry’s lead to five, but Donegal gradually began to find a way forward, led by Peadar Mogan.
He was a late replacement to the starting line-up for Ciaran Thompson, and he pointed either side of Loughlin’s reply, before Tir Chonaill captain Michael Murphy closed the gap to 1-4 to 0-4.
But Loughlin and full-back Brendan Rogers tagged on two more scores for Gallagher’s side that saw them lead by five. That was until Mogan registered his third of the match six minutes before the end of the half.
Patrick McBrearty then got in on the act with a close range free shortly before the break to leave a goal between the sides, 1-6 to 0-6 – and leave an intriguing second period in store.
That second half began in explosive fashion as Donegal grabbed their goal just 40 seconds in.
Derry keeper Odhran Lynch was unable to hold Michael Langan’s shot and Odhran McFadden Ferry was on hand to fore home the rebound to level the game at 1-6 apiece.
And while Rogers nudged Derry in front five minutes later, Jason McGee replied almost instantly at the other end. However, the second half saw Donegal in the ascendancy for the most part.
Ryan McHugh and Shane O’Donnell put them in front for the first time in the match, but Derry just wouldn’t go away – McGuigan and Conor Doherty got them back on terms again – 1-9 each – and as the tie ebbed and flowed, it was hard to pick a winner.
McBrearty and McGuigan traded scores, before Murphy and McGee gave Donegal a two-point advantage again with 13 minutes remaining. But – yet again, Derry came roaring back, as McGuigan split the posts twice.
That took it to extra-time and it was hard to argue – there was nothing to separate the sides.
Donegal were the first to make the move in the first period with Aaron Doherty pointing four minutes in. Emmett Bradley duly answered that as bodies began to flag and tiredness kicked in.
McGuigan then notched his fifth free of the match, before Rogers got his third of the day. But, as had been the case all day, Donegal replied, through sub Ciaran Thompson.
However, this time they had left themselves just too much to do and too little time to do it. Derry’s Conor Glass finally found a route forward and he was able to make it 1-16 to 1-14 in stoppage time.
Donegal poured forward, but Derry were able to keep out the goalmouth scrambles and a free from close range from Michael Murphy.
As they broke down the pitch, Tyrone Referee Sean Hurson blew the final whistle and that triggered an outpouring of emotion from players, management and supporters alike.
MATCH STATS
DERRY: O Lynch; C McKaigue, B Rogers (0-3), C McCluskey; C Doherty(0-1), G McKinless, P McGrogan; C Glass (0-1), N Toner; P Cassidy (0-1), S Downey (0-1), E Doherty; B Heron, S McGuigan (0-6, 5f), N Loughlin (1-2, 1f)
Subs: E Bradley(0-1) for Loughlin (47mins), L Murray for Heron (65mins), B McCarron for Loughlin (68mins), P McNeill for Downey (70+2mins), O McWilliams for E Doherty (87mins)
DONEGAL: S Patton; C Ward, B McCole, S McMenamin; R McHugh (0-1), E Ban Gallagher, O McFadden Ferry (1-0); C McGonagle, J McGee (0-2); P Mogan (0-3), S O'Donnell (0-2), M Langan; P McBrearty (0-2, both frees), M Murphy (0-2), J Brennan
Subs: C O'Donnell for Brennan (58mins), A Doherty (0-1, Mark) for McFadden Ferry (65mins), N O'Donnell for S O'Donnell (70+2mins), C Thompson (0-1) for McGonagle (80mins),
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)