Gaelic Games

Derry defeat Cavan to win first Ulster minor football title since 2002

Tiarnan Flanagan’s 28th minute goal lays foundation for victory

Tiaran Flanagan of Derry scores a crucial goal against Cavan during the Ulster minor final at Clones, Co Monaghan. Photograph: Inpho/ Presseye
Tiaran Flanagan of Derry scores a crucial goal against Cavan during the Ulster minor final at Clones, Co Monaghan. Photograph: Inpho/ Presseye
Sun Jul 19 2015 - 17:48

Derry 1-11 Cavan 0-11

Shane McGuigan kicked five points from play as Derry captured a first Ulster minor football title since 2002 at Clones yesterday.

Derry effectively won this game in the first half, Tiarnan Flanagan’s 28th minute goal helping them to a commanding 1-8 to 0-5 interval lead.

Cavan wing-back Dillon Raythorne kicked two points from play in the opening three minutes, but it was the only time the Breffni County led in the game.

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Derry had shocked hot favourites Donegal in the Ulster semi-final, and they continued yesterday where they had left off. They reeled off four points in a row, with two from McGuigan, and one each from Patrick Kearney and Conor Glass.

McGuigan was on fire up front for Derry and scored two more left-footed points, one a special score from out near the wing, to help put his side 0-8 to 0-5 ahead as half-time approached.

The only goal of the game came just before the break, McGuigan passing out to Tiarnan Flanagan whose low shot beat Cavan goalkeeper Fergal O’Rourke at his near post.

Patrick Kearney kicked his third point from play soon after the break.

Derry goalkeeper Callum Mullan-Young pulled off a smart point-blank save from Cavan midfielder David Brady, who moved in to full-forward in the second period.

Cavan half-time substitute Conor Smith kicked two points and Brady nailed a 45 to keep their challenge alive.

However McGuigan kicked his fifth point from play to settle Derry and though Cavan battled hard in the second half, Derry closed out the game.

DERRY: C Mullan-Young; N Keenan, C McGrogan, C Maunsell; O Duffin, M McEvoy, E Concannon; P Kearney (0-3), J Doherty; P Coney, S Downey (0-1), C Glass (0-1); T Flanagan (1-0), B Grant (0-1), S McGuigan (0-5). Subs: F Higgins for Grant (37 mins), F Kearney for Flanagan (54 mins), N McAtamney for Coney (58 mins).
CAVAN: F O'Rourke; P O'Reilly, D Monaghan, L Fortune; D Raythrorne (0-3), S Fortune, D Wilson; D Brady (0-2, one free, one 45), C Brady; D Gannon (0-3, two frees), P Leddy, R O'Neill; D Kennedy, T Donohoe (0-1), R Fitzpatick. Subs: R Clarke for Leddy, C Smith (0-2) for Fitzpatrick (both h-t), L Cooper for Fortune (42 mins), S Smith for O'Neill (55 mins), E Cooney for Kennedy (57 mins).
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)