Debutants shine as Derry ease past Antrim at Owenbeg

FULL-TIME: Derry 2-16 v 0-7 Antrim

McKenna Cup – Round 2 | Owenbeg | Wednesday, January 7

Derry opened their McKenna Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over Antrim at Owenbeg, pulling clear in the second half on a bitterly cold night to underline a confident if measured start to the season.

With last weekend’s scheduled opener against Donegal lost to the weather, this was the Oak Leafers’ first outing of 2026. It was a game where four senior debutants were introduced and each played a meaningful role in stretching Derry’s advantage.

On Ciaran Meenagh’s first game back in charge, Derry settled quickly despite the conditions. Lachlan Murray registered the first score of Derry’s season inside the opening ten minutes, one of two early points from the forward as the home side moved 0-4 to 0-2 clear. Paul Cassidy added a two-pointer midway through the half to nudge Derry further ahead, with Pádraig McGrogan and Mark Doherty also on target as Derry enjoyed plenty of possession and territory.

Antrim stayed in touch through the accuracy of Pat Shivers from placed balls, and a two-pointer from the left boot of goalkeeper John McNabb ensured the margin was trimmed to two points at the interval, with Derry leading 0-9 to 0-7 despite having controlled much of the play.

The second half began scrappily in the cold, but the introduction of Conor McAteer, Sean Young and Sean Kearney at the restart, followed shortly by Ruairí Ó Mianáin, injected fresh energy. Murray opened the scoring ten minutes into the half, with Shea Downey adding a fisted point soon after, as Derry began to pull away.

The decisive moment arrived when Cassidy struck for the game’s first goal. A sharp, defence-splitting pass from Ethan Doherty released Cassidy, who drove to the net from 20 metres. From there, Derry’s grip tightened. Kearney chipped in with a point, and with eight minutes remaining Ó Mianáin marked his debut with Derry’s second goal, effectively closing the contest.

Antrim failed to register a score in the second half as Derry’s defence stood firm, and the final stages were played out with the Oak Leafers in full control.

Derry: Ryan Scullion, Conor McCluskey, Padraig McGrogan, Diarmuid Baker, Shea Downey, Gareth McKinless, Mark Doherty, Conor Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Jack Doherty, Matthew Downey, Ethan Doherty, Niall Toner, Niall Loughlin, Lachlan Murray

Subs: Shea McGuckin, Sean Kearney, Ryan Mulholland, Conor McAteer, Marty Bradley, Sean Young, Ruairí Ó Mianáin, Conor Glass, Niall O’Donnell, Tommy Rogers

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