DERRY came close and gave an off-form Donegal a fright but it was a goal from Marty O’Reilly that proved to be the crucial score in a tense, close and physical Ulster SFC semi-final yesterday.
Both sides were level at the interval with Derry responding well after going three points down early on in the match.
In the second-half Donegal’s Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden put them two ahead before O’Reilly struck with the decisive blow.
O’Reilly’s brother Stephen is a talented boxer but it was his younger brother who provided the KO blow to Derry’s Ulster hopes.
With Donegal five ahead it looked as if Rory Gallagher’s side would steamroll Derry but Brian McIver’s showed great character and heart to get back in it and scored THREE points on the bounce.
Derry couldn’t get any closer than within two points of Donegal buT wasted several chances to get back in it.
Poor shot selection from Derry cost them dearly while in the closing stages their discipline let them down with two players black-carded.
Donegal had chances to extend their lead but failed to convert their chances with Patrick McBrearty guilty of missing two good chances from placed balls.
The Tir Chonaill men went 18 minutes without a score in the first-half and when Marty O’Reilly scored his goal Donegal went a further 18 minutes before Murphy landed a a superb point.
Derry will be disappointed at not taking their chances against a Donegal team who were certainly not firing on all cylinders.
Some suggest Donegal came into the came too relaxed after routing Armagh in the quarter final.
But Rory Gallagher will now have to get his players back into hard training for their Ulster Final against Monaghan on July 18th.
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