DONEGAL Under-16s were pipped in a game of two halves as their Buncrana Cup dreams were dashed by Derry at Hibernian Park, Burt.
Donegal 1-09 Derry 2-08
A whirlwind start to the second half that included a brace of goals by Damon Gallagher saw the Oak Leaf turn the tables after Jack Flannery’s goal helped Donegal (pictured above) to lead by five, 1-6 to 0-4, at the short whistle.
Derry powered clear in the opening eight minutes of the second half when they turned that five-point deficit into a five-point lead.
Gallagher’s free was followed by his first goal, finishing powerfully beyond the Donegal netminder, Paddy Gallagher, after taking receipt of a pass from Stephen Bradley.
The big Bellaghy number 14 drew the teams level and with the Derry tails up he fired home a second goal, converting at the far post with Donegal stunned.
Brian McGeehin’s team could muster only three points – from Jack Keaney and frees by Peadar Mogan and Thomas McGowan – in part two and when they went in search for goals they found the Derry defence in stern mood.
Sub Oisin McWilliams surged through for a point that outlined the new-found confidence in the Derry ranks and there was perhaps a sense of panic in Donegal as they went for the majors a little too early and a little too often.
It was a real game of two halves, but it was Derry who made the hay to make it count.
The Derry management had strong words for referee Kyle Doherty at half-time and this certainly seemed to have affected the official’s second-half display.
Derry were behind by five after Donegal’s useful first half.
Derry had led through Tomas Donnelly and Lorcan McWilliams, before three quick-fire scores by Shane Doherty, Keaney and McGowan got Donegal into the driving seat.
John Paul Devlin leveled and he did likewise after a superb score by Gary Molloy briefly restored Doenegal’s advantage.
Donegal finished the first half well. McGowan converted a free and sub Paul Murphy got on the scoresheet either side of the Donegal goak. Murphy and McGowan were involved in a move polished off by Flannery, who made no mistake with a fine finish.
Aaron Deeney was outstanding with the exception of a loose free that led to a goal from Gallagher, while Mogan, Keaney, Flannery and Molloy among the other bright sparks for the Tir Chonaill boys.
Donegal now face Armagh in the 3rd/4th place play-off in Buncrana with Derry set to face Monaghan in the final.
Donegal: Paddy Gallagher (Ardara); Aaron Deeney (St Eunan’s), Darragh Byrne (Naomh Ultan), Michael McGroary (St Eunan’s); Michael Mulhern (Cloughaneely), Peadar Mogan (St Naul’s, 0-1f), Gary Molloy (Kilcar, 0-1); Sean Gorrell (Killybegs), Jack Keaney (Four Masters, 0-2); Cian McEniff (Bundoran), Jack Flannery (Naomh Conaill, 1-0), Shane Doherty (Termon, 0-1); Thomas McGowan (Four Masters, 0-3, 2f), Matthew McGovern (St Eunan’s), Mickey Gallagher (Killybegs). Subs: Paul Murphy (Bundoran, 0-1) for McGovern (15), Johnny Sweeney (Ardara) for Gallagher (19), Gallagher for McEniff (33), Danny Walsh (Ardara) for Doherty (46), Eoin McGeehin (St Eunan’s) for McGowan (47).
Derry: Odhrán Lynch; Aaron Bradley, Giuseppe Lupari, Conor McCluskey; John Paul Devlin (0-2), Declan Cassidy, Odhrán Quinn; Conor Quinn, Marty Bradley, Mark McGrogan (0-1), Lorcan McWilliams (0-1), Stephen Bradley; Tomas Donnelly (0-1), Damon Gallagher (2-2, 1f), Ruairi Rafferty. Subs: Oisin McWilliams (0-1) for M.Bradley (19), Dara Rafferty for R.Rafferty (39), Nathan Scullion for O.McWilliams (43), Shane McIntyre for Donnelly (47).
 Referee: Kyle Doherty (Antrim).
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