Round-up: Donegal and Monaghan reach Dr McKenna Cup decider
Conor McAteer, Derry,and Ciarán Moore, Donegal, in Dr McKenna Cup action. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Semi-finals
Donegal 1-18 Derry 1-16
Monaghan 1-15 Tyrone 2-10
Donegal will meet Monaghan in the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup final on Saturday, following narrow two point victories over Derry and Tyrone respectively.
Donegal travelled to Celtic Park and defeated Derry by 1-18 to 1-16, coming from four points behind with a storming second half performance.
Conor McAteer and Conor Doherty swept over early points as the home side settled in, bug a couple of Jason McGee scores had the sides level by the sixth minute.
The Oak Leafers restored their two points cushion with two quickfire Laughlan Murray scores, and pushed further clear through Niall Loughlin.
But the sides were level by the end of the opening quarter, with Peadar Mogan and Daire O Baoill on target.
Loughin and Morgan traded scores, but another spell of Derry dominance saw Ethan Doherty and Murray stretch the lead out to three.
Paul O’Hare and Paul Cassidy swapped points late in the half, sending Ciaran Meenagh’s side in with a 0-10 to 0-7 interval lead.
Conor McAteer extended the lead, but Donegal grew in strength after O Baoill grabbed the only goal of the game on 33 minutes.
Hugh McFadden, Gavin Mulready, O Baoill and Kevin Muldoon added points as they went into the final quarter with a five pojnts advantage.
Conor Doherty and Ethan Doherty pulled back scores, but Jim McGuinness’ side finished strongly with points from Kevin Muldoon, Ryan McHugh and Conor McCahill, before Ryan Mulholland scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.
Monaghan were 1-15 to 2-10 winners over Tyrone at Inniskeen, with Micheal Bannigan starring in attack.
David Garland and Bannigan cancelled out scores by Tyrone’s Ethan Jordan and Michael Conroy early on, but the Red Hands struck for an Aodhan Donaghy goal on eight minutes.
Bannigan was a constant threat, and his brilliantly executed 21st minute goal sparked his side’s dominance of the second quarter.
Despite playing into the wind, they outscored their opponents by 1-7 to 0-1, moving the ball fast through the hands for Andrew Woods, Dessie Ward, Thomas Hughes, Bannigan and Fionan Carolan to hit the target for a 1-10 to 1-6 half-time advantage.
Tyrone struck back with scores from Conroy and Mattie Donnelly, and went in front with a Conroy goal on 45 minutes.
But Shane Hanratty, Andrew Woods Bannigan, with a two-pointer, and Matthew Carolan hit the target in the closing quarter to seal the home side’s place in the decider.
