Down recovered from a shaky start to secure
a 3-11 to 1-14 win over Derry in a thrilling
Cadbury’s Ulster U21 FC final at Casement
Park.
Wind-aided Derry began the
game like an express train and were 0-5 to 0-2
in front after just 11 minutes with James Kielt
noching two of them.
However a snap goal by Conor
Garvey in the 14th minute put a different picture
on proceedings as Down eased their way into
the game.
After 29 minutes the teams
were on level terms before a six man Down move
ended with Paul McComiskey rifling the ball
to the Derry net for a 2-5 to 0-8 half-time
lead for the Mourne County.
A shock goal by Sean Leo McGoldrick
in the 38th minute and a point by Paul McVey
had Down playing catch up once more.
Down fought back once more
with points by Cathal Magee and McComiskey with
51 minutes on the clock.
Right on the hour Down hit
the jackpot with a goal by Ryan Kelly to make
it 3-10 to 1-13 for Down before a point apiece
was sent over in injury time.
Down - M McAlister; M Digney,
C Murney, J Murphy; C Garvey 1-0, K Duffin,
T Hanna 0-1; J Colgan, J Caldwell; C McGinn,
K McKernan 0-2, P McCumiskey 1-4; C Brannigan,
0-2 C Magee 0-1, R Kelly 1-1. Subs: C Killen
for McKernan, P Downey for Magee, B Rooney for
Hanna.
Derry - M O’Neill; D
Bell, N Holly, M McShane; B Og McAlary, C McKaigue
0-3, D McBride; M Craig 0-1, B Gormley 0-1;
J Kielt 0-3, R Kealey, SL McGoldrick 1-0; P
McWilliams 0-1, E Lynn 0-1, E Brown 0-1. Subs:
N McNicholl for Kealey, P McVey 0-1 for McWilliams.
Ref - R O’Donnell (Donegal)
