GAA: Tohill miss costs Derry Ulster title

Sunday, 16 July 2000 19:16

Armagh 1-12 Derry 1-11

An unfortunate last minute missed free by Derry captain Anthony Tohill cost his team a place in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final and handed Armagh their second Ulster title in as many years. Derry manager, Eamonn Coleman, who watched the match from the stand after he was banned from the sideline, resigned after the game.

It was a spirited occasion at Clones where a crowd of over 33,000 people gathered under blazing sunshine to watch the teams battle it out. Armagh's Stephen McDonnell opened the scoring with a point after 11 seconds. Derry quickly scored three more points back. However, Stephen McDonnell's goal on 14 minutes put Armagh back in touch, and they looked confident from then on.

Armagh went into the break two points up, and they increased this lead to five points a short time into the second half with Ger Reid looked particularly strong in their back line. Derry were rewarded with an equalising goal from Johnny McBride on 61 minutes after a persistent spell of pressure. However, Armagh took a one point lead with minutes to go when Oisin McConville kicked a free from a fraction outside the Derry 50 yard line.

Two minutes into injury time, Derry were rewarded a free which could have forced a replay. Anthony Tohill stepped up to take it and from 56 yards out, he kicked right of the posts. The win gives Armagh their first ever back to back Ulster title win.