Derry and Armagh set up Ulster MFC final battle

Derry's players celebrate after last year's semi-final victory. Pic: Cathal McOscar, Inpho

All-Ireland champions Derry are back in another Ulster MFC final following a high-powered second half performance which saw them overwhelm Tyrone at Owenbeg.

Their 2-14 to 1-10 victory sets up a meeting with Armagh in next weekend’s provincial decider at Omagh. 

Tyrone opened up a three points lead, with Shea McDermott converting a couple of frees, but Derry grabbed a 14th minute goal through Dylan Rocks, who finished to an empty net after intercepting a free intend for the ‘keeper.

The sides were level at the break on 1-2 to 0-5, with Davin McKeown and Lorcan McMurray trading points with Derry’s Ger Dillon who knocked over two frees.

But the Oak Leafers, with five of last year’s Markham Cup winning team on board, made an explosive start to the second half, hitting 1-2 in the opening three minutes, with Caoimhín Hargan hitting the net for a five points lead.

Tyrone hit back with a Peter Colton goal, but were unable to halt their opponents’ momentum, as Hargan, Rocks, Caomhan McNally and Dara McGuckin all powered over points.

With ten minutes to go, they were coasting with a ten points lead, and Tyrone were never going to deny the champions, despite late scores from Peter McGoldrick, Paul McGinley and Colton.

In the other semi-final, Armagh were 2-8 to 1-7 winners over Donegal at Ballyshannon, where they hit two goals in the second half, but failed to score a single point.

The visitors raced into a six points lead, with Fionn Toale and Ross Marsden sending over two points each, and Daithi O’Callaghan and Thomas Fox also on target.

Donegal were slow to settle and didn’t get off the mark until the 19th minute when Donnachadh O Baoighill hit their opener.

Max Campbell and Alex Cunnea added points for the home side, but the Orchard finished the half strongly with a Keelan McEntee score to take a 0-8 to 0-3 lead into the break.

Jack Loughran fired in a 37th minute goal to tighten their grip on the contest, and when Jamie McCole added a second at the end of the third quarter, they led by ten.

Donegal rallied for Colm O Dochartaigh to grab a goal, and they dominated the final quarter, pulling back points through Thomas Carr, Eoghan Gallagher and Conor McCahill, but had left themselves with too much to do.