NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Derry 0-15 Donegal 0-10:DERRY ARE through to the National League final after a very impressive first-half display against Donegal in Letterkenny yesterday. Seven weeks before their Ulster championship meeting on June 1st, Derry laid down a marker, although Donegal did show enough in the second half to make that meeting something to look forward to.
Once again, Paddy Bradley carried the main scoring threat for Derry but he was ably assisted by Conleth Gilligan and Mark Lynch with some great scores.
Donegal manager Brian McIver had to contend with his son, Michael, fielding for Derry and when Donegal were in the ascendancy in the second half, McIver junior popped up to hit Derry's first point in 18 minutes with three minutes left on the clock.
Before that score the margin was down to four points - 0-13 to 0-9 - as Donegal had a purple patch in the middle of the second half.
The happier manager was Derry's Paddy Crozier, who expressed his delight at meeting Kerry in the final. "We achieved what we set out to do and we played very composed football. We were quite content, 0-10 to 0-3 at half-time, limiting them to three frees. We said we wanted to win the second half but they got a point after 10 seconds," said Crozier, who was high in his praise for his midfield pairing, especially James Conway.
Derry were majestic in the opening half and were never headed and four points in a row from Conleth Gilligan (two), Fergal Doherty and a Paddy Bradley free between the 22nd and 29th minutes put them five clear.
Close to half-time Paddy Bradley added two more quick frees as Derry led 0-10 to 0-3 at the break.
The interval allowed McIver reorganise Donegal and they had their first score of the game from play inside 10 seconds of the restart, through Leon Thompson.
Three points from Colm McFadden had Donegal back within five points but it took further reorganisation by the home team, with Kevin Cassidy going to midfield, before they really got back in contention. Points from substitutes Frank McGlynn and Christy Toye reduced the margin to four points by the 56th minute.
But the home side were just not able to close the gap any further despite having some good chances. And then McIver jnr added to dad's misery by getting Derry's 14th point, followed quickly by an Enda Muldoon free.
In the final minute Michael Hegarty drove through for Donegal to win a penalty in the 70th minute but Michael Doherty's spot kick went well over the crossbar. Kevin McGuckin received a second yellow for the tackle on Hegarty.
McIver will be happy enough with Donegal's second-half display and afterwards felt his side had achieved their target for the year, eight league points and survival in Division One.
DONEGAL:M Boyle; K Lacey, N McGee, S McGowan; E McGee, B Monaghan, K Cassidy; S McDermott, K Rafferty; R Kavanagh, M Hegarty (0-1, free), B Roper; L Thompson (0-1), C McFadden (0-5, three frees), C Dunne. Subs: F McGlynn (0-1) for McGowan, P McDaid for McDermott, C Toye (0-1) for Thompson, M Doherty (0-1, pen) for Dunne.
DERRY:B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McCloy, F McEldowney; L Hinphey, G O'Kane, M McIver (0-1); F Doherty (0-1), J Conway (0-1); M Lynch (0-1), B McGoldrick, E Muldoon (0-1, free); C Gilligan (0-3,two frees), P Bradley (0-6,three frees), E Bradley (0-1). Subs: J Diver for McGoldrick, N McCosker for O'Kane, P Murphy for E Bradley, R Wilkinson for C Gilligan.
Referee:M Duffy (Sligo).
