Derry 0-23
Down 2-12

Derry have qualified for their first Christy Ring Cup final after trumping Ulster rivals Down in Owenbeg.

The sides had been level 10 times before Tom McLean's charges took control in the final quarter to book a Croke Park showdown with Kerry next Saturday evening. Sharpshooters Paul Cleary, Ruairi Converty and Paddy Henry accounted for 0-18 of the winners' tally.

The hosts recovered from the concession of a ninth minute Gareth 'Magic' Johnson goal to draw level on 0-6 to 1-3 thanks to points from Alan Grant, Convery and Cleary. However, a brace of Johnson frees gave Down a slender 1-8 to 0-10 lead at the break.

Down swooped for a second goal through James Coyle early in the second half, but the wind-assisted Oak Leafers had restored parity at 0-16 to 2-10 by the 50th minute. And they took charge after that as Grant, Anton Rafferty and Convery fired them into the decider.

In the earlier Ulster MHC quarter-final, Derry cruised to a 6-18 to 2-5 win over Donegal.

Derry - D McDermott; M Warnock, C Quinn, S McCullagh; A Rafferty (0-1), C McSorley, K Hinphey; S McGuigan, B Quigley; P McCloskey (0-1), P Cleary (0-6), P Henry (0-5, 4f); A Kelly, R Convery (0-7, 4f), A Grant (0-3). Subs: J O'Dwyer for A Kelly, L Hinphey for B Quigley, N Ferris for P McCloskey, D Flanagan for A Grant, R McCloskey for M Warnock.

Down - S Keith; M Conlan, P Flynn, M Hughes; D McManus (0-1), C Woods, M McCullough; D Hughes, F Conway (0-1); M Ennis (0-1), D Toner, S Dineen (0-2); C Egan, G Johnson (1-5, 0-3f), J Coyle (1-1). Subs: J McManus for C Egan, S Nicholson (0-1) for M Hughes, B Nicholson for C Woods, P Sheehan for D Toner, E Sands for J Coyle.

Referee - O Elliott.

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