Down 3-09 Derry 1-15
Derry reached their first McKenna Cup final since 2017 after defeating Down 3-2 on penalties in an intense affair at Pairc Esler in Newry.
The semi final went straight to spot kicks after a pulsating draw in normal time.
Wing back Conor Doherty held his nerve to send Derry through after Shane McGuigan and Paul Cassidy also found the back of the net for the Ulster champions.
Regardless of the result, Down showed plenty of promise but will rue a two goal start to the second half that looked to propel Conor Laverty's side to their first pre season final in 17 seasons.
Down's Pat Havern opened the scoring in the feisty encounter. With space in front of the Mourne full forward, he chose to bounce off Chrissy McKaigue and curl over the bar. The purposeful impact was the manner of the day.
Niall Toner soon levelled and only for McKaigue, Conor Laverty side would have worked another major in the style of their manager. A quick move where Ryan Magill got in behind and Barry O’Hagan was denied a certain tap-in at the back post.
In a tough game to referee Monaghan’s Niall McKenna marshalled it superbly and quickly eradicated the early niggle.
Down were the better side and shaded a 0-03 to 0-02 lead after a quarter of an hour. Slipped in by the powerful Gareth McKinless, Padraig Cassidy borne down on goals and picked his spot in the top left corner, entirely against the run of play.
All Star nominee Shane McGuigan then tapped over a neat brace. His first, ironically, was the first score-able free of the game and a classy point on the spin shortly after. Niall Toner clipped over to give Derry best period a lead of five points.
Havern then ended Down’s 13 minute drought in front of the posts with a much needed score. Lachlan Murray responded with a wonderful mark but Down would finally make the sizeable home crowd roar with a major.
Odhran Murdoch intercepted goal scorer Cassidy in a vulnerable position off a short kick out, the ball found its way to his midfielder partner Niall Donnelly to blast past Odhran Lynch. Game on.
The end of the half belonged to Shane McGuigan though, the languid star struck two exquisite January points to make it 1-08 to 1-06 at half time in Rory Gallagher’s side's favour.
Just 27 seconds had lapsed in the second half when Donnelly snuck in behind the Derry cover to pile drive home his second goal. It got even better for Down when Kilcoo’s Ceilium Doherty hit the net in the semi finals next score.
With a four point deficit Derry knuckled down and hit six of the next seven points. Niall Toner really stood up for his side at this juncture with half of those scores to give Derry the lead.
Free takers O’Hagan and McGuigan traded placed kicks in the finale, the latter, levelling at the death to bring the game to penalties where Doherty would be the hero, while setting up a tasty final against Tyrone this Saturday night.
Down: John O'Hare; Paddy McCarthy, Ryan McEvoy, Pierce Laverty (0-01); Conor Francis, Niall McParland, Ceilum Doherty (1-00); Niall Donnelly (2-00), Odhran Murdoch; Liam Kerr (0-01), Ryan Magill, Shay Millar; Donagh McAleenan, (0-01) Pat Havern, (0-03) Barry O’Hagan (0-03, 0-03f).
Subs used: Andrew Gilmore for Millar (40), Patrick Branagan for Francis (51), Miceál Rooney for McAleenan (51), Mark Walsh for Havern (58), Paul Quinn for Magill (68), Rory Mason for Kerr (72).
Derry: Odhran Lynch; Chrissy McKaigue, Eoin McEvoy, Conor McCluskey; Padraig Cassidy (1-00), Padraig McGrogan, Conor Doherty; Brendan Rogers (0-01), Paul Cassidy; Niall Toner (0-05), Gareth McKinless, Ben McCarron (0-01); Shane McGuigan (0-06, 0-04f), Anton Tohill, Lachlan Murray (0-01, 0-01m).
Subs used: Oisín McWilliams (0-01) for Tohill (43), Paul McNeill for McKinless (blood 61-67),
Referee: Niall McKenna (Monaghan)
Cork advanced to the McGrath Cup final and a date with Limerick after a 2-10 to 0-08 win away to Clare in Quilty.
In a low-scoring opening half, it was the visitors that enjoyed a 0-06 to 0-03 lead.
A goal always felt like it would be decisive and when Steven Sherlock goaled in the 52nd minute, it pushed Cork into a five-point lead.
Chris Óg Jones raised a second green flag three minutes from time as Cork advanced to Wednesday night's decider against the Treaty County.
