DERRY got off to a winning start today in a close encounter with Armagh.
The Oak Leafers took a two point lead into the second half and they increased their scoring ratio with two more goals and five points to run.
But just when it looked like they were going to run out with a four point winning score, Armagh bagged a late goal and Derry just got home with a one point margin.
A crowd of 2,281 filed into Owenbeg for the 2 pm throw-in in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup.
Armagh started the second half brightlly with Oisin Mac Íomhair opening the scoring with an early point
Ryan Bell replied for Derry before Ben Crealey and Ciaran McKeever level matters at 1-06 a piece.
Then there was a penalty for Derry as Emmet McGuckin’s shoot is blocked by the foot of an Armagh defender.
And McGuckin stepped up and converted the penalty to put Derry back in front by two.
Crealey cut the deficit by one with a point but on 53 minutes Michael Warnock marked his debut with a point to give Derry a one point lane.
On 55 minutes Enda Lynn took a pass from Peter Hagan and smashed the ball into the roof of the net, taking Derry’s lead to 3-07 to 1-08.
With 11 minutes to go, Niall Loughlin grabbed his third score of the day.
Rory Grugan scored his second free of the game on 61 minutes and Armagh trailed by by five.
On 62 minutes Crealey scored his 3rd point of the half for Armagh and the score narrows to 3-08 to Derry and 1-10 to the Orchard men.
Five minutes later Ryan Bell with his 2nd score as Derry looked to close out the game. 3-09, Armagh 1-11.
As the match goes into five minutes of added time, Derry’s lead is cut to three points – Derry 3-09, Armagh 1-12.
With one minute left of additional time, Patrick Kearney gets a debut poin and Derry’s lead is back to four points – 3-10 to Armagh’s 1-12.
And with the last kick of the game, Ciaran McKeever scores a goal but it is too late as Derry take the spoils with a winning score of 3-10 to 2-12.
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