Gaelic Games

Shane McGuigan runs riot as Derry make it three from three

Rory Gallagher’s side found a much quicker gear than Cork soon after the restart

Derry’s Shane McGuigan in action during Sunday’s win over Cork. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho
Derry’s Shane McGuigan in action during Sunday’s win over Cork. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho
Sun Feb 20 2022 - 16:01

Derry 1-13 Cork 0-07

Derry continued their fine early season form, and made it three wins from three, by defeating Cork by nine points at Owenbeg.

Shane McGuigan top scored with eight points, returning to somewhere near his best form. Benny Heron hit the game winning goal midway through the second half after the crossbar had denied him late in the first.

Derry ran in 0-5 to 0-3 to the good at half-time in a nervy opening, with McGuigan their chief score taker.

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Rory Gallagher’s side found a much quicker gear soon after the restart. The Oakleafers hit seven of the next eight scores, with Benny Heron’s 44th minute goal the match winning score.

McGuigan matched his first half tally of four, hitting another four points in the second half. Emmett Bradley, Niall Loughlin and Oisin McWilliams all raised white flags as the home team stamped their authority on the contest.

Opponents Cork disappointed after the break. Their appetite and intensity failed to reach anywhere near their first half performance, with only the free-taking of Stephen Sherlock offering the small band of travelling fans any joy.

By contrast Derry grew in confidence and stature as the game progressed. Padraig McGrogan continued his fine early season form and popped over a score late in the game to increase Derry’s lead further. McGuigan scored his eighth point of the contest, a fitting end to Derry’s total, before Kevin O’Donovan hit the last consolation point of the game for the under par visitors.

Derry: O Lynch, C McKaigue, B Rogers, C McCluskey, E Doherty, P McGrogan (0-1), C Doherty, C Glass, E Bradley (0-1), P Cassidy, N Loughlin (0-1), O McWilliams (0-1), B Heron (1-0), S McGuigan (0-8, 0-6 frees), L Murray (0-1).

Subs: N Toner for L Murray (39 mins), P Cassidy for O McWilliams (53 mins), B McCarron for B Heron (56 mins), M Downey for N Loughlin (57 mins), S Downey for C Doherty (64 mins).

Cork: C Kelly, K O'Donovan (0-1), S Meehan, T Corkery, R Maguire, B Hennessy, M Taylor, I Maguire, S Merritt, C O'Callaghan, F Herlihy, D Dineen (0-1), S Sherlock 90-5, 0-4 frees), D Buckley, B Hurley.

Subs: J O’Rourke for D Buckley (38 mins), K Flahiue for B Hennessy (50 mins), D O’Connell for S Merritt (53 mins), B Murphy for F Herily (57 mins), C Kiely for R Maguire (57 mins).

Referee: J Connors (Donegal).