Derry 1-11

Cavan 0-11

A Tiarnan Flanagan goal on the stroke of half-time proved all-important as Derry defeated Cavan to be crowned Ulster minor football champions for the first time since 2002 at Clones.

Conquerors of holders Donegal in the semi-final, Damien McErlain's charges were full value for their win, which secured a 13th provincial title in the grade for the Oak Leaf County. Flanagan's major in the 29th minute gave them a six-point cushion at the break, 1-8 to 0-5, and they were able to hold off a fancied Cavan team - who also progress to the All-Ireland quarter-finals as Ulster runners-up - in the second half.

The Breffni County led by 0-2 to 0-0 after four minutes thanks to a brace of points from Dillon Raythorne, but it didn't take long for the winners to assert their authority as unanswered scores from Shane McGuigan (two), Patrick Kearney and captain Conor Glass propelled them into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Darragh Gannon replied with a brace of frees, only for McGuigan to shoot two from play to leave Derry 0-7 to 0-4 ahead. Gannon and Barry Grant traded scores before McGuigan set up Flanagan for the only goal.

Kearney extended the Oak Leafers' advantage on the restart before half-time substitute Conor Smith and midfielder David Brady led a Cavan fightback with well-taken pointss. But they couldn't get any closer than three points as McGuigan's fifth sealed Derry's victory.

Derry - B McKinless; N Keenan, C McGrogan, C Maunsell; O Duffin, M McEvoy, E Concannon; P Kearney (0-3), J Doherty; P Coney, S Downey (0-1), C Glass (0-1); T Flanagan (1-0), B Grant (0-1), S McGuigan (0-5). Subs: F Higgins for B Grant, F Kearney for T Flanagan, N McAtamney for P Coney.

Cavan - F O'Rourke; P O'Reilly, D Monaghan, L Fortune; D Raythrorne (0-3), S Fortune, D Wilson; D Brady (0-2, 1f, 1'45), C Brady; D Gannon (0-3, 2f), P Leddy, R O'Neill; D Kennedy, T Donohoe (0-1), R Fitzpatrick. Subs: R Clarke for P Leddy, C Smith (0-2) for R Fitzpatrick, L Cooper for L Fortune, S Smith for R O'Neill, E Cooney for D Kennedy.

Referee - P Faloon.

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