Senior footballers defeat Derry to advance to All-Ireland knockout stages

Image courtesy Paul Lundy

DUBLIN 0-22 

DERRY 0-20

Dublin did just enough to advance to the knockout stages as they edged Derry by two points in Round 3 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship at Páirc Esler, Newry on Saturday evening. 

An absorbing first-half saw Dublin enjoy a generous amount of possession but a trio of two-pointed frees from Shane McGuigan helped ensure a 0-13 apiece stalemate by the interval. 

Dublin resumed impressively, building up a five-point advantage by the end of the third quarter and while Derry placed some late pressure on their goal, Dublin repelled their efforts with a fair degree of comfort. 

Dublin’s enterprise was evident from the opening throw-in, with Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne winning possession before releasing his Cuala clubmate Con O’Callaghan, who raced through on goal before fisting over the crossbar. 

An excellent Killian McGinnis score doubled the Dublin lead inside the first minute and a fine Cormac Costello point soon after was just reward for their lively start. 

A goal could have arrived in the 4th minute but Paddy Small’s shot clipped the crossbar before going over with Costello providing the assist on this occasion. 

While Conor Glass clipped Derry’s first score two minutes later, the aerial dominance provided by Ó Cofaigh Byrne allowed Dublin to dominate possession with O’Callaghan turning sharply to restore Dublin’s four-point lead. 

Ethan Doherty and Lee Gannon exchanged points as the half evolved but Dublin’s grip on proceedings loosened with Derry’s resurgence kickstarted by a two-pointed free from McGuigan in the 11th minute. 

The Derry attacker highlighted his threat by kicking the next three scores of the game, including another two-pointed free, as Dublin suddenly found themselves two points in arrears by the end of the first quarter. 

Dublin regained their composure with McGinnis and Costello (free) levelling matters by the 22nd minute with a Paddy Small point and two-pointed free by Stephen Cluxton helping rebuild a three-point lead. 

The ebb and flow continued as Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy and McGuigan (free) brought Derry back on level terms and despite Costello kicking a two-pointed free in the 35th minute, McGuigan did likewise with the last kick of the half, leaving the teams deadlocked by the turnaround.

Ó Cofaigh Byrne and O’Callaghan combined once again from the throw-in for the latter to edge Dublin back in front only for Niall Loughlin to bring the sides on level terms again by the 40th minute. 

Dublin were once again playing the bulk of the football as reflected in points from Sean Bugler and McGinnis and while Doherty replied for Derry in the 45th minute, an excellent John Small score restored Dublin’s two-point buffer. 

The Dubs looked to drive home their advantage at this stage through points from Ciarán Kilkenny, Bugler and O’Callaghan with Glass keeping Derry in the hunt with his second score at the start of the final quarter. 

A fine solo score by Gannon restored Dublin’s five-point buffer but they were never allowed to relax as points in quick succession by McGuigan (free) and Doherty left just a goal between the teams with ten minutes remaining.

Bugler could have eased Dublin nerves but couldn’t gain sufficient power on his shot, allowing Ruairi Forbes to clear off the line but there was some reward as O’Callaghan fisted over after Costello’s resultant ‘45’ had struck the upright.    

Derry replied through late points from Loughlin and Brendan Rogers but an excellent Cluxton kick-out that found substitute Nathan Doran allowed Dublin to play out the closing seconds with commendable calm to secure the precious win.  

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Callaghan 0-5; C Costello 0-4 (1 F2, 1f); K McGinnis 0-3; P Small, S Cluxton (F2), L Gannon, S Bugler 0-2 each; J Small, C Kilkenny 0-1 apiece. Derry: S McGuigan 0-10 (3 F2, 3f); E Doherty 0-3; C Glass, N Loughlin 0-2 each; N Toner, P Cassidy, B Rogers 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S Cluxton; S MacMahon, T Clancy, D Byrne; B Howard, J Small, L Gannon; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, K McGinnis; N Scully, S Bugler, C Kilkenny; P Small, C O’Callaghan, C Costello. Subs: C Murphy for McGinnis (49), E Murchan for Clancy (49), R McGarry for Scully (54), T Lahiff for Gannon (60), N Doran for P Small (68). 

Derry: B McKinless; D Baker, B Rogers, P McGurk; C Doherty, E McEvoy, P McGrogan; C Glass, D Higgins; E Doherty, P Cassidy, C McFaul; S McGuigan, N Loughlin, N Toner. Subs: L Murray for Toner (44), C McCluskey for McGurk (51), N Mulholland for McFaul (59), R Forbes for Cassidy (62), C McMonagle for Loughlin (68). 

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).