McKenna Cup Final - Down storm to McKenna Cup victory over Derry

Down finally gave their long-suffering supporters something to shout about when they stormed to victory over Derry in the Dr McKenna Cup final at Casement Park. This is the eleventh McKenna Cup title which Down has won, the last coming ten years ago in 1998. The other titles came in 1944, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1972, 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1996.

A classy attacking display from Danny Hughes inspired the Mourne men, who had failed to win a single game in this competition, or in the National Football League either last season.

Dr McKenna Cup Final: Down 1-12 Derry 1-6

Down’s fast-moving attack had a hesitant Derry attack under pressure right from the start, with Hughes setting the game alight with a series of penetrating runs and some superb scores.

Derry were forced to shoot from long range, and as a result registered a string of wides, 11 in all in the opening period, their only score of the half a Paddy Bradley free on 25 minutes.

By that time Hughes had slotted over three from play, with John Clarke and Kevin McKernan also on target.

Derry boss Paddy Crozier introduced experienced attackers Enda Muldoon and Paul Murphy before the break, and facing a 0-6 to 0-1 deficit, they had plenty to do.

Eoghain Bradley was also introduced to the Oak Leaf offensive unit shortly after the restart, and Derry did begin to look threatening, pulling back scores through Ryan Keely and Muldoon.

Down, however, clung on stubbornly to their five points cushion, with Clarke and midfielder Jackie Lynch on target.

And they soon stretched the advantage to six, with Clarke clipping over his third on the end of a neat move.

But Paddy Bradley ignited Derry’s challenge when he took a Raymond Wilkinson pass to slot home a 49th minute goal.

Down responded by creating another goal chance at the other end, but once again, Deighan was equal to the task, spreading himself to keep out Ronan Sexton’s effort.

Hughes, with his fourth point of the contest, left five between the teams with a quarter of an hour to play, and the industry of Dan Gordon at midfield was largely responsible for keeping their momentum at an impressive level.

And goalkeeper Deighan was finally beaten when substitute Conor Gribben rose to punch home Downey’s towering delivery seven minutes from the end

Down: B McVeigh, C McGovern, G McArdle, M Cole, D O’Hanlon, L Doyle (0-1, free), K McGuigan, D Gordon, J Lynch (0-1), J Fegan (0-1, free), K McKernan (0-1), D Hughes (0-4), J Clarke (0-3), C Magee, R Sexton (0-1).

Subs: P Downey for Clarke, C Murney for McGovern, C Gribben (1-0) for McKernan, R Murtagh for Magee

Derry: J Deighan, K McGuckin, L Hinphey, F McEldowney, M McBride, J Keenan, R Keely (0-1), J Conway, A McElhone, E Lynn, C O’Kane, R Wilkinson, C Devlin, P Bradley (1-2, 1 free), S McGoldrick.

Subs: E Muldoon (0-1, free) for Devlin, P Murphy for O’Kane, E Bradley (0-2) for Lynn, K McCloy for McElhone, C Mullan for Wilkinson

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone)

Wides: Down 6, Derry 15

Yellow cards: Down: R Sexton

Derry: E Bradley, K McCloy, L Hinphey

Red cards: None

Attendance: 5,325