Minor Footballers are defeated by Derry

DERRY 3-11 DUBLIN 1-8

It proved a disappointing tale of missed opportunities for Dublin as they succumbed to Derry by nine points in their Electric Ireland All Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final at the Box-it Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Sunday afternoon.

There was no doubting Derry's supremacy on the day, particularly given they played the entire second-half with fourteen men, but Dublin will rue some errant finishing, especially in the opening period, when they created numerous promising situations.

Noah Byrne almost handed the Dubs a dream start as he made a trademark burst from the left wing but in the act of being fouled, he dragged his low shot wide, with Lenny Cahill popping over the resultant free.

Derry responded well with Eamon Young levelling matters in the 4th minute after a fine Cillian Murray save with the Ulster champions taking the lead a minute later through a Ger Dillon free.

Dublin were the better side initially, however, punching regular holes in the Derry defence through Byrne and Luke O'Boyle with the latter restoring parity with an excellent '45' in the 9th minute.

A Senan Ryan attempt was questionably called wide as the half evolved with Derry regaining the lead thanks to a superb Oisin Doherty effort at the start of the second quarter.

Byrne replied with a cracking point of his own before Derry began to gain the upper hand, reflected in placed balls efforts by James Sargent and Dillon, with Murray making another vital intervention to deflect a John Boyle shot around the post.

The upright came to Derry's aid in the 23rd minute as Byrne's low shot cannoned to safety with another Dillon free leaving Derry leading by double scores with five minutes of the half remaining.

Ryan Mitchell offered Dublin reward for their improved play but a debatable Tommy Rogers point left the Dubs trailing by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

With Derry goalkeeper Jack McCloy receiving his marching orders after an altercation at the end of the first-half, the intensity increased a notch with Young popping over a classy effort to increase Derry's lead.

Byrne replied with another superb score in in the 36th minute and the momentum seemed to have turned irrevocably in Dublin's favour a minute later as substitute Shane Mullarkey made an instant impression, palming to the net from a Paddy Curry pass.

Far from building on this score, Dublin saw their opponents seize control of possession with Sargent converting from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute following a foot block by O'Boyle.

Dillon and Young put further daylight between the teams prior to Luke Grant effectively settling the issue when bundling home in the 49th minute after a period of sustained Derry possession.

Cahill tapped over two frees as Dublin searched in vain for chinks in the Derry armour but Cahir Spiers put them out of their misery in added time with an audacious lob over the retreating Murray, leaving the Dubs to reflect on a campaign that highlighted the talent prevalent across the county.

Scorers - Derry: G Dillon 0-5 (5f), J Sargent 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 '45'), E Young 0-3, L Grant, C Spiers 1-0 each, T Rogers, O Doherty 0-1 apiece. Dublin: L Cahill 0-4 (4f), S Mullarkey 1-0, N Byrne 0-2, L O'Boyle ('45'), R Mitchell 0-1 apiece.

Derry: J McCloy; F McEldowney, F Murray, L Grant; C Spiers, J Sargent, O Campbell; C McKaigue, T Rogers; E Young, G Dillon, J McGuckian; R Small, J Boyle, O Doherty. Subs: K Campbell for Boyle (half-time), D McNamee for Doherty (59), K Mullan for McGuckian (62).

Dublin: C Murray; S Keogh, C Emmett, J O'Sullivan; J Young, E Costello, R Mitchell; S Ryan, A Carolan; P Coleman, L O'Boyle, N Byrne; P Curry, H Curley, L Cahill. Subs: A O'Reilly for Coleman (30), S Mullarkey for Ryan (35), C O'Connor for Young (50), C McAweeney for Curley (53), B Kennedy for O'Sullivan (54).

Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim).