Derry 1 – 15 – 1 – 10 Antrim (after extra time).
Antrim and Derry Masters served up a semi final thriller at Swatragh on Saturday, the Oak Leafs doing just enough to see off a gallant Antrim team in extra time to progress to the final of the intermediate competition.
Antrim had beaten Derry in their corresponding league fixture in July, but several of Antrim’s outstanding players that day were unavailable, and in contrast Derry were boosted by the return of Gerard OKane, Raymond Wilkinson and Ciaran McIvor, this extra bit of quality making just enough difference on the day for the Derry men.
Nothing separated the teams throughout a gripping contest, where no quarter was asked for or received. From the first minute when Gavin Diamond opened the scoring for the hosts, and Kevin Mc Allister replied for the visitors, this game was destined to go right to the wire.
Brian Mullan put Derry one up a few minutes later and again this was evened out by Portglenone’s Mark Graham, the game remaining evenly balanced throughout the entire contest.
Raymond Wilkinson and three from the trusty boot of Ryan O Kane kept the scoreboard ticking over for Derry who were the winners in this grade last year, with Ryan Boyd and two long range points from returning Mark Dougan keeping Antrim well in the contest.
Despite missing the assurance of Colin Brady and Sean Kelly, the Antrim defence was holding its own, Adrian Scullion going toe to toe with Ciaran McIvor a particular highlight and Colin Connolly holding his own with Derry sharpshooter Raymond Wilkinson.
Derry went in one point to the good at the half time break, and went three up briefly after the restart, with a duo of points from Moneymore’s Liam McElhone…the marauding Gerard O Kane and impressive Paul Cartin in the thick of the action. This Antrim side has showed great character all year though, and were far from finished. Despite now playing against a breeze, Micheal Herron won another of his trademark turnovers and supplied Ryan Boyd, who launched a high ball into the Derry square. Big Liam Magee from St Pauls got his fist on the end of it and the ball ended up in the net for the first goal of the game.
Further points from McAllister and Magee gave Antrim supporters further optimism and Down referee Willie Fitzpatrick was keeping busy, branding several black cards with the game going down the straight and into the closing stages.
Both teams threw the kitchen sink at trying to get over the line in a frantic last quarter. Kevin McAllister, Mark Dougan and the hugely impressive Thomas Doherty (Rasharkin) separated the posts for Antrim and Derry favourite wee Jimmy OConnor, Paul Cartin and James McNicholl doing likewise. With seven minutes to go came the games turning point. Antrim were working the ball out of defence and the safe and dependable Tony Convery was dispossessed, with everyone in Saffron claiming he had been fouled in the process, but the whistle didn’t come and within seconds Gavin Diamond had the ball in the back of the Antrim net, and it was game on.
With one minute left on the clock Antrim were a point to the good, and with a three on two overlap that looked certain to extend that to two and inevitable victory, but overdid the passing and Pearse McCallan in the Derry nets got his hand to the goal bound effort, and began one last ditch Derry move, working the the ball through the middle third before Jimmy O Connor was fouled around the forty metre line. With a last ditch free to level it for Derry, up stepped Marty Donaghy to bring the game into extra time, where they finished stronger than Antrim with some strong substitutions and fresh legs making a difference.
On a day with some excellent individual contributions, special mentions to Antrim’s Adrian Scullion, Colly Connolly, Thomas Doherty and Michael Herron, and for the Derry, Gerard OKane, Eugene Scullion, Gavin Diamond, Kevin McGuckian and best player on view, Banagher man Paul Cartin.
While Derry make it back to back finals and a date with Cork, Antrim management and panel will reflect on what may have been if they had an ounce or two more composure in the final third, but will take some satisfaction knowing that in their recent losses that they can confidently match up most of the top performing counties in this increasingly popular competition.
Antrim Panel.
Tony Scullion, Ryan Daly, Mickey Donnelly, Mark Dougan, Michael Herron, John Finucane, Colin Connolly, Adrian Scullion, Aidan Dunlop, Tony Convery, Sean McGreevy, Thomas Doherty, Carl O Neill, Brendan Etherson, Mark Graham, Kevin McAllister, Liam Magee, Damien Casey, Ken Golden, James McGreevy, Niall Sweeney, Ryan Boyd, Barry McMahon, Declan McLarnon, Niall Conway.
Derry Panel.
Pearse McCallan, Adrian Deery, Kevin McGuckian, Eddie McLaughlin, Gerard OKane, Brian Mullan, Donal Brolly, Paul Cartin, Eugene Scullion, Gavin Diamond, Ciaran Mullan, Jimmy o Connor, Ryan OKane, Ciaran McIvor, Raymond Wilkinson, Joe Gray, Stephen McGuigan, Rory OReilly, Marty Donaghy, James McNicholl, Gareth Murphy, Eunan Murphy, Liam McElhone, Kevin Donnelly, Kieran OKane, Martin McGuinness.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO VIEW CATHAL MC OSCAR’S PICS FROM THE GAME