Sport

Derry and Donegal to play again after scrappy affair

MOST of the risks were taken by the dug out mentors who made some of the most unusual replacements during the closing minutes…

By PAT ROCHE
Mon Jul 29 1996 - 01:00

MOST of the risks were taken by the dug out mentors who made some of the most unusual replacements during the closing minutes of a scrappy Ulster Minor Football Final at Clones yesterday.

The Derry selectors started the huge crowd ruminating by replacing left corner forward Seamus Kearney, the team's stop scorer at the time. Gavin Diamond, easily among the most industrious and constructive players in an untidy match as well as Adrian Heaney had just kicked the equalising point at 0-7 to 0-7 with 10 minutes remaining when he was taken off.

The Donegal back roomers went almost as "crazy" by deciding to take right half forward Shane O'Donnell out of the action, albeit a minute before three minutes injury time was played.

He had just kicked the lead point for Donegal who were then taking the lead for the second time in the match.

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The under-18 code was not seen in the best light, chiefly because the midfield was forever over crowded and both teams became obsessed with the short hand pass. A couple of long deliveries into the open spaces was badly needed to give the game real character.

The bulk of the excitement was crammed into the last quarter. Up to that Tyrone had cause to rue missed opportunities and especially the erratic form of forward David McGinley who untypically missed more than he scored. (four points, two frees).

Donegal, the pre-match favourites, trailed until 14 minutes into the second half and at this point it was realised that at least one good substitution had been made. Johnny McLoone was only two minutes on the pitch when he levelled the scores with a huge point at 0-6 to 0-6. McGinley kicked Donegal in front but Heaney pegged him back.

The see saw trend continued with Shane O'Donnell booting Donegal ahead again and Gerard Cassidy levelling for Derry. Just on the stroke of the 60 minutes Eoin Farren kicked what looked like the winner but a foul on roaming Donegal captain Rory Sweeney gave McLoone the opportunity of kicking the equaliser from the resultant free three minutes into injury time.

The replay is fixed for next