Bord Gáis Energy Ulster U-21 Hurling Final

Derry 3-17 Down 1-9

Derry manager Collie McGurk was already looking forward to a Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U-21 semi-final after yesterday evening’s highly impressive Ulster Final victory over Down.

It was the Oak Leaf County’s first title in the grade since 2008 and testified to the fact that the hurling in Derry is very much on the up again.

“13 of that group have played senior hurling at different stages this year for Derry so we always knew the quality was there,” McGurk told Highland Radio after the game.

“10 of them were part of the Slaughtneil group that went to an All-Ireland semi-final and coped well with that pressure.

“Our touch there tonight and our touch against Antrim was on a part with with anything we’ve produced in Derry before, so it was good to see it.

“Look, we’re delighted, we’re getting a run against Kilkenny now and we’ve made a big improvement in a year.”

McGurk has had something of a Midas touch this year having already masterminded the Derry senior team’s impressive Nicky Rackard Cup Final triumph over Armagh.

He took Derry hurling by the scruff of the neck at a time when it was at a low ebb, and is satisfied that things are now moving in the right direction again for the Oak Leaf County at senior as well as underage level.

“It is, we’re rejuvenated our senior squad not just with good athletes, but with quality hurlers, which is where we wanted to be,” said McGurk.

Derry recovered from a bad start that saw them trail Down by 1-2 to no score after five minutes to eventually run out very convincing winners at Corrigan Park last night.

Key to their growing dominance as the game progressed was the firm grip they took in the middle third where they Conor McAllister in particular excelled.

“Conor McAllister had a massive game for us there,” agreed McGurk. “John Mullan had a very good first half too before he got a knock on the hand and the fella who came in, Ciaran Steele, served us well there too. We rotated our midfield because Down’s midfield was very strong.

“Cormac Doherty had a superb game. Our full-back I thought was excellent, Paddy Turner, and Daire Cartin was excellent too.”

It was difficult for McGurk to single out any one player because really this was a consummate team-performance by Derry.

They hit five points in a row to draw level by the 12th minute, and when Brian Cassidy fired them ahead with a goal five minutes before half-time they were already on the road to victory.

Derry took total charge of the contest early in the second-half as points from Darragh Cartin, Daithi Sands, Pearse Og McCrickard, and Odhran McKeever as they pushed into a 1-14 to 1-7 lead by the 40th minute.

They then finished the match with a flourish as super-sub Corey Riley netted two goals to put the seal on a highly impressive victory.

Scorers for Derry: D Cartin 0-7 (5f), C Riley 2-0, B Cassidy 1-2, C McCallister 0-2, O McKeever 0-2, C O’Doherty 0-2 C Steele 0-1, S McGuigan 0-1.

Scorers for Down: O McManus 1-0, C Coulter 0-3 (3f), M Fisher 0-2 (2f), B Trainor 0-1, P McCrickard 0-1, D Sands 0-1.

Derry: F McEldowney; S Higgins, P Turner, P McNeill; R McCartney; C Steele, S McGuigan; C McAllister, J Mullan; E McGill, S Cassidy, O McKeever; D Cartin, C O’Doherty, B Cassidy.** Subs: **C Riley for Mullan; N Smyth for O’Doherty; P Burke for McKeever.

Down: H Flynn; B Myers, D Mallon, P McManus; M Fisher, E Coulter, R Courtney; L Savage, J Doran; B Trainor, D Sands, R Campbell; O McManus, P McCrickard, C Coulter. Subs: M Pattterson for P McManus, N Breen for C Coulter, O Duggan for O McManus.

Ref: C Cunning (Antrim)