Mark Lynch: substituted today
DERRY’S fine win over Donegal earlier this month was a distant memory today after they were beaten by Queen’s University Belfast to get dumped out of this year’s Dr McKenna Cup.
A late Niall Loughlin goal for Derry proved too little too late as the students – hammered by both Donegal and Fermanagh in this group – held on to win 1-09 to 1-05.
The students led by five points at half-time and there was no way back for Brian McIver’s side as the students held on bravely for a fine win and the upset of the day.
Ryan Murray hit the QUB goal in the first half of the game which was switched to Greenlough this morning due to poor weather conditions in Lavey.
Enda Lynn replaced Ciarán McFaul and Daniel McKinless replaced Terence O’Brien in the Derry starting line-up after last week’s defeat to Fermanagh at Brewster Park.
The students and Derry swapped points early on to tie the game at 0-03 each; James Kearney, Mark Lynch and Niall Toner with the Derry scores.
But Derry would score just one more – through Kearney – in the first half, leaving the half-time score Derry 0-04, QUB 1-06.
At the re-start Barry McGoldrick replaced Declan Brown, Seán Brady replaced Mark Lynch and Eoin Bradley come on for Niall Toner.
But it would be the 54th minute before Derry would score again – through James Kearney, to reduce the deficit to four.
Four minutes earlier substitute Peter Cassidy, who had just replaced Liam McGoldrick, missed a glorious chance for a goal after being set up by Enda Lynn, but his effort shave the wrong side of the post.
Queen’s were shot shy themselves and it was 14 minutes from the end before they scored again through man of the match Ryan Murray who quickly added a second to leave the students six points clear on 1-08 to 0-05.
With two minutes to go Derry were given some faint hope of recovery when Niall Loughlin netted.
But the students hit another point to win by four points, 1-09 to 1-05.
