Donegal hold off Derry in hard-fought McKenna Cup semi-final

FULL-TIME: Derry 1-16 v 1-18 Donegal

McKenna Cup semi-final | Celtic Park | Wednesday, January 14

On a wet January night at Celtic Park, Derry and Donegal finally crossed paths and served up a breathless, high-quality McKenna Cup semi-final that felt far more serious than its pre-season billing. In a 60-minute contest packed with intensity, momentum swings and late drama, Derry came up just short, but left with plenty to feel encouraged about after pushing a near full-strength Donegal side to the very end.

There was a sense of intent fright from the throw-in. Inside 15 seconds Paul Cassidy was through on goal, forcing an early save from the Donegal keeper. It set the tone for a bright opening spell in which Derry played with freedom, aggression and confidence.

Lachlan Murray was at the heart of it early on, scoring off both boot and hand, while Gareth McKinless caused repeated problems by driving forward from deep. Derry dominated possession and territory, racing into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 14 minutes. Niall Loughlin’s free, won after McKinless was fouled, underlined how sharp Derry looked across the pitch.

Donegal steadied, with Dáire Ó Baoill drawing them level on 16 minutes, but Derry continued to find space. Conor McCluskey burst through the Donegal defence to set up Murray for a fisted point, and by the 25-minute mark Derry led 0-9 to 0-6. It could have been more. Cassidy had another goal chance saved, and Donegal struck the crossbar with one of their few clear openings of the half.

At the other end, Shea McGuckin marked his senior debut in style. Calm under pressure, he mixed his restarts well and dealt confidently with high balls into the square. Derry defended their arc superbly, limiting Donegal to speculative efforts and earning a deserved three-point lead at the break, 0-10 to 0-7.

The tone changed quickly after half-time. Donegal emerged with 12 of the team that started last season’s All-Ireland final, and the shift in intensity was immediate. Conor McAteer opened the scoring for the second half, but sustained pressure on Derry’s kickout soon told. Dáire Ó Baoill struck for a goal, and Donegal rattled off five unanswered points to take the lead for the first time, turning the game on its head within minutes.

At one stage Donegal led by five, their experience beginning to show. But Derry refused to fold. Substitutions brought fresh energy, and the response was impressive. Cassidy drove Derry back into contention, Matthew Downey and Sean Kearney added scores, and suddenly the gap was closing again.

As the clock ticked into the final minutes, Derry were still in the fight. Kearney pointed after excellent work by Conor Doherty on a pressured kickout, and McCluskey saw a late goal chance smothered brilliantly by the Donegal goalkeeper. Then, deep into stoppage time, came one last surge. Ryan Mulholland broke through and squeezed the ball over the line with the narrowest of margins.

It wasn’t quite enough. Donegal had done just enough earlier in the half to hold on, edging it by two points.

Derry: Shea McGuckin, Conor McCluskey, Padraig McGrogan, Diarmuid Baker, Shea Downey, Gareth McKinless, Mark Doherty, Conor Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Conor McAteer, Conor Glass, Ethan Doherty, Niall Toner, Niall Loughlin, Lachlan Murray

Subs: Louis Regan, Jack Doherty, Matthew Downey, Sean Kearney, Ryan Mulholland, Marty Bradley, Sean Young, Ruairí Ó Mianáin, Niall O’Donnell, Tommy Rogers, Eamon Young