Gaelic Games

McKenna Cup: Ethan Doherty’s late point seals dramatic draw for Derry

Late flurry of points secures win for Donegal against Down

Derry’s Matthew Downey is challenged by Monaghan’s David Garland during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup match at Owenbeg. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho

Fri Jan 7 2022 - 22:07

Derry 0-12 Monaghan 0-12

Derry and Monaghan played out a dramatic draw at Owenbeg to open their 2022 campaigns. Niall Loughlin top-scored with five points for Derry, with Rory Beggan converting four frees for Monaghan.

Greenlough’s Loughlin opened Derry’s account when he converted a45 after just two minutes but Beggan returned fire soon after and Derry led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Derry stretched that lead to four shortly after the restart.

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Two in a row from Micheál Bannigan pulled the teams level at 0-10 apiece with 10 minutes to play. A sweetly taken Jack McCarron free handed Monaghan the lead for the first time in the game in the 64th minute.

Ethan Doherty quickly cancelled out that brief Farney lead but Kieran Duffy looked to have snatched victory for Monaghan when he pointed deep into injury time before Ethan Doherty grabbed a share of the spoils in the fifth minute of injury-time.

DERRY: O Lynch; C McCluskey, P McGrogan, S Downey ; E Doherty (0-2), C Doherty, M McEvoy; O McWilliams (0-2), E Bradley (0-1); P Cassidy, B Herron (0-1), M Downey; N Toner, N Loughlin (0-5), L Murray (0-1).

Subs: D Cassidy for Toner (58 mins), E McEvoy for M McEvoy (63), A Tohill for S Downey (67), D Higgins for Herron (70).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan (0-4, frees); S Hanratty, C Boyle (0-1), R Wylie; K O'Connell, D Ward, D McElearney; K Lavelle (0-1), N Kearns; F Kelly (0-1), A Woods (0-1), B McBennett; D Garland, G Mohan, D Hughes.

Subs: M Bannigan (0-3) for Kelly (25 mins), K Duffy (0-1)for O'Connell (43), A Mulligan for Hughes (44), J McCarron for Mohan (53).

Referee: S Laverty (Antrim)

Donegal 1-13 Down 2-8

It was in the melting pot until a trio of late points gave Donegal the edge in a tricky McKenna Cup opener with Down in Ballybofey.

A 64th-minute goal by Odhrán Murdock seemed as if it might snatch a win for James McCartan on his return as Down manager.

However, Ciarán Thompson, Péadar Mogan and Patrick McBrearty swung the pendulum in Donegal’s favour.

Tony McClenaghan slotted in a goal on 50 minutes, but Donegal were reeled in when Murdock punished a defensive error.

Shane O’Donnell marked his first start in a Donegal shirt with a neat fisted point with Donegal edging the early blows.

A Michael Langan free put Donegal 0-4 to 0-3 ahead as the first water-break was called.

Donegal hit four on the spin before Andrew Gilmore netted from close range to bring Down back into it.

Mogan’s late point gave Donegal a 0-9 to 1-4 half-time lead.

McClenaghan gave Donegal breathing space, but Declan Bonner’s men needed a late salvo to win it.

DONEGAL: M Lynch; C Ward, B McCole, O McFadden-Ferry; T McClenaghan (1-0), E Gallagher, J Mac Ceallabhuí; M Langan (0-3, two frees), C McGonagle; E Doherty, P Mogan (0-2), S O'Donnelll (0-1); P McBrearty (0-5, three frees), C McGuinness, C O'Donnell (0-1).

Subs: C Thompson (0-1) for McGuinnes, E O'Donnell for McFadden-Ferry (both h/t), C McColgan for Mac Ceallabhuí (47), A Doherty for E Doherty (50), O Doherty for S O'Donnell (60), J Grant for McClanaghan (64), R O'Donnell for Langan (66), M Curran for Gallagher (68), R McFadden for C O'Donnell (70+4).

DOWN: R Burns; D Murtagh, F McElroy, C McCartan; R McCormack (0-2), N McParland, J McGeough (0-1, a 45); A Doherty, J Connery; O Murdock (1-0), T Close, C O'Rawe; B O'Hagan (0-4, three frees), P Havern (0-1), A Gilmore (1-0).

Subs: B McArdle for Murtagh (34), R Beatty for Close (41), L Middleton for Connery (47), R O'Hagan for O'Rawe (58), T Prenter for McGeough (66).

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).