Derry 1-8
Donegal 0-9

Derry have set up a McKenna Cup semi-final meeting with Down following this two-point win over neighbours Donegal in Ballybofey last night.

The defeat was Donegal's third in the competition and leaves them with a lot of work to do before the start of the NFL. The visitors, who made a whopping eight changes from the side that beat UUJ at the weekend, got off to a great start when Conleth Gilligan slotted home a second-minute penalty after Cailean O'Boyle had been fouled.

Dermot 'Brick' Molloy, who had opening the scoring from a free, went on to add four more points in the opening half, but will regret missing two goal chances. John McGamley also fired wide for Derry with a goal at his mercy in the 16th minute.

John Brennan's side gradually gained the upper hand in the second half when they scored four points in a 13-minute spell to open up a two-point lead, and they maintained that advantage until the finish.

Derry - D Devlin; B McCallion, P McGlade, C Murray; C McKaigue, D McBride, SL McGoldrick; J McCamley, M Bateson; B McGoldrick, M Lynch, G O'Kane (0-3); E Brown (0-1), C O'Boyle, C Gilligan (1-3). Subs: J Conway for Bateson, E McGuckin (0-1)for Lynch, R Dillon for C Murray, E Lynn for McGoldrick, N Forrester for Gilligan.

Donegal - M Mullin; T McKinley, J Bonner, F McGlynn; A Thompson (0-1), C Classon, D Walsh; R Kavanagh, R Bradley; D Walsh, D McLaughlin, M O'Reilly; P McBrearty (0-2), D Molloy (0-6), C McManus. Subs: N McGee for Bonner, G McFadden for McManus, P McGrath for McLaughlin.

Ref - P Hughes (Armagh). Tweet

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