McGuigan the Derry ace

 Ulster MFC final Derry 1-11 Cavan 0-11 

Shane McGuigan kicked five points from play as Derry clinched a first Ulster MFC title since 2002 at Clones The Oak Leafers did most of the hard work in the first-half, and led 1-8 to 0-5 at the break, with Tiarnan Flanagan’s 28th minute goal providing Derry with an advantage they never relinquished.

Derry had shocked fancied Donegal in the semi-final and lived up to expectation in the final, McGuigan’s eye-catching four points from play in the first-half helping the county to a 13th provincial title.

Cavan wing-back Dillon Raythorne kicked two points from play in the opening three minutes, but that was the only time the Breffni county led.

Derry kicked the next four scores, two from Shane McGuigan, and one each from midfielder Patrick Kearney and captain Conor Glass.

Darragh Gannon replied for Cavan with a free but Kearney added a second long-range point for Derry. Shane McGuigan was on fire up front for Derry and scored two more left-footed points, one a special score from out near the wing, to help put the Oak Leafers 0-8 to 0-5 ahead as half-time approached. Derry then added a killer goal just before the break, McGuigan teeing up Tiarnan Flanagan to stretch their lead to 1-8 to 0-5 at the break. Kearney kicked his third point from play after the restart. Cavan half-time sub Conor Smith kicked two points and Brady nailed a ‘45’ to keep the Breffni alive. However McGuigan kicked his fifth from play to settle Derry and see them home

Scorers for Derry:

S McGuigan 0-5, T Flanagan 1-0, P Kearney 0-3, C Glass, B Grant, S Downey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cavan:

D Gannon 0-3 (2f), D Raythorne 0-3, D Brady (0-2, 1f, 1 ‘45’), C Smith 0-2, T Donohoe 0-1.

DERRY:

C Mullan-Young; N Keenan, C McGrogan, C Maunsell; O Duffin, M McEvoy, E Concannon; P Kearney, J Doherty; P Coney, S Downey, C Glass; T Flanagan, B Grant, S McGuigan.

Subs:

F Higgins for Grant (37), F Kearney for Flanagan (54), N McAtamney for Coney (58).

CAVAN:

F O’Rourke; P O’Reilly, D Monaghan, L Fortune; D Raythrorne, S Fortune, D Wilson; D Brady, C Brady; D Gannon, P Leddy, R O’Neill; D Kennedy, T Donohoe, R Fitzpatick.

Subs:

R Clarke for Leddy (HT), C Smith for Fitzpatrick (HT), L Cooper for Fortune (42), S Smith for O’Neill (55), E Cooney for Kennedy (57).

Referee:

Paul Faloon (Down).