Derry’s hurlers turned round a four point half-time deficit to defeat Donegal by four points in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny yesterday.
Trailing at the break by 1-06 to 1-02, Derry turned the came in their favour when they scored 2-02 in the first nine minutes of the second period, the goals coming from Ciaran Steele and Sean Quinn.
Donegal have only themselves to blame as they missed a number of golden opportunities to put the game beyond the visitors at the end of the first half, during which they hit 10 wides.
Derry’s Prionsias Burke opened the scoring before two pointed frees from Tom Clare put Donegal in front.
Donegal bagged the game’s opening goal when Aaron McCauley finished superbly past Conor Owens ahead of Derry’s Fintan McGurk finding the back of the net.
Eddie Lynch, McAuley and Jack O’Loughlin put over points for Donegal before the break.
Derry came out all guns blazing at the start of the second period, scoring 2-2 in the first nine minutes to take a four point lead.
Donegal fought back with points from O’Loughlin, Sam Doherty, Stephen Doherty and Oisin Rooney but Burke (2) and Quinn saw Derry over the winning line..
Scorers
Derry: P Burke 0-5f, S Quinn, C Steele 1-1 each, F McGurk 1-0, D Cartin 0-1.
Donegal: A McCauley 1-1, T Clare 0-4f, J O’Loughlin (2 ’65’s, f) 0-3, E Lynch, Stephen Doherty, Sam Doherty, O Rooney 0-1 each.
Donegal: D Fitzpatrick; A Stokes, K McGrath, C Rami; C O’Grady, J O’Loughlin, E Drummond; P Nelson, J McBride; Sam Doherty, Stephen Doherty, E Lynch; A McCauley, T Clare, S Curran. Subs: O Rooney for Curran (37); C Griffin for Clare (43).
Derry: C Owens; M Lynch, P Turner, O Doey; G Farren, C Quinn, J Mullan; S O’Neill, S Quinn; P Burke, J McGlinchey, F McGurk; J Grant, C Steele, D Cartin. Subs: B Laverty for McGlinchey (16), F O’Kane for McGurk (41).
Referee: N Mullaney (Monaghan).
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