Derry 0-23 Down 2-12
Derry dug deep to book their place in a first ever Christy Ring Cup final with a 0-23 to 2-12 win over Down in Owenbeg.
Tom McLean's charges produced a stunning final quarter to advance to a Croke Park decider against Kerry, with Paul Cleary (0-06) and Alan Grant (0-03) impressive from play, while Patrick Henry (0-05) and Ruairi Convery (0-07) contributed hugely from placed balls.
This game was extremely tight throughout with the sides level on 10 occasions, including six times in the opening half.
A Gareth Johnson pointed free helped Down to a 1-08 to 0-10 interval lead, with Johnson also netting an eighth-minute goal.
Both sides remained tight on the restart, and although Derry started brightly a 43rd-minute James Coyle goal levelled the tie at 2-08 to 0-14.
The sides were again tied in the 48th minute but Derry took control.
A Grant point but them ahead with 20 minutes remaining and the Oak Leafers stayed on top until the finish.
With players such as Sean Ennis, Caolan Baille and Johnny McCusker on the injury list, it was always going to be tough away from home.
However, Down offered plenty of experience at this level, and aiming to reach their fourth final, they certainly gave a strong display throughout.
Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson once again lived up to his name in this contest, but it was ultimately Derry’s ability to take their scores from play which made the difference.
Johnson’s eighth minute goal gave Down an early platform, but Derry worked hard, with the sides level on six occasions by the interval.
Derry led by 0- 10 to 1-06 approaching half-time, but a brace of Johnson pointed frees ensured Down took a 1-08 to 0-10 half-time advantage.
35 minutes away from a potential first ever final Derry dug deep in the second half, and emerged from the dressing rooms at half-time with fire in their bellies.
Vocally pumped up by their captain Sean McCullagh as they entered the pitch for the closing 35 minutes, it was clear to see the Oak Leafers weren’t going to lie down easily, and this showed in their hurling immediately on the resumption.
Within seven minutes of the restart, the hosts hit four unanswered scores with Convery, Henry, Cleary and Patrick McCloskey all on target.
Down were handed little change in the second half, although Coyle’s goal came as a response, after a pass from Johnson and drew the tie for the eighth time, after 43 minutes.
Down took the lead after Johnson brought his tally to 1-04, but he was held to just one further point, as Derry took firm control.
The Oak Leafers hit seven of the next eight points, and indeed kept Down scoreless for 12 minutes over this period, with Derry having one eye on a June 6th decider.
Scores came from all angles, and all positions during this period, with half back Anton Rafferty also getting in on the scoring.
0-21 to 2-10 ahead with 12 minutes to play, Derry looked like heading for Croke Park, and although Down cut the gap to three points, and with three minutes of injury-time played, Derry held out for a famous win.
DERRY: D McDermott; M Warnock, C Quinn, S McCullagh; A Rafferty (0-01), C McSorley, K Hinphey; S McGuigan, B Quigley; P McCloskey (0-01), P Cleary (0-06), P Henry (0-05, 4f); A Kelly, R Convery (0-07, 4f), A Grant (0-03). Subs: J O’Dwyer for Kelly (53); L Hinphey for Quigley (58); N Ferris for McCloskey (64); D Flanagan for Grant (64); R McCloskey for Warnock (70).
DOWN: S Keith; M Conlan, P Flynn, M Hughes; D McManus (0-01), C Woods, M McCullough; D Hughes, F Conway (0-01); M Ennis (0-01), D Toner, S Dineen (0-02); C Egan, G Johnson (1-05, 3f), J Coyle (1-01). Subs: B Nicholson for McCullough (Blood 5-8); J McManus for Egan (18); S Nicholson (0-01) for D Hughes (HT); B Nicholson for Woods (53); P Sheehan for Toner (59); E Sands for Coyle (64).
REFEREE: Owen Elliott (Antrim)
