Donegal pull off remarkable comeback to beat Derry

Shane O'Donnell's 64th minute goal was key to Donegal's win. 

Conor O'Donnell scored three points as Donegal defeated Derry in Ballyshannon. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

AFL Division 1: Donegal 1-22 (1-8-14) Derry 1-19 (1-2-15)

A Shane O’Donnell goal was the catalyst for Donegal as they came from eight points down to overcome neighbours Derry in Ballyshannon.

O’Donnell had a give-and-go with the talismanic Michael Murphy to smash past Odhran Lynch in the 64th minute and take Donegal back to 1-19 to 1-16 behind. From there, Jim McGuinness’s team knocked over scores from Ciaran Thompson, Conor O’Donnell, Ciaran Moore and Daire Ó Baoill.

The defeat leaves the Paddy Tally-managed Derry with their Division 1 survival hopes hanging by a thread, while Donegal are on eight points at the summit of the table alongside Galway.

Although there was an element of shadow-boxing with the sides to meet in the first week in April in the Ulster SFC preliminary round, Derry needed points with just one from their first four outings.

Derry had the breeze in the first half and with its last kick, a Shane McGuigan two-pointer free, gave them a lead of 0-11 to 0-7. Lachlan Murray, who was perhaps the best player on display, had kicked a two beforehand, although he pulled up at the end with a hamstring injury.

Scorers for Donegal: Ciaran Thompson 0-6 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf), Daire Ó Baoill 0-5 (1 2pt), Shane O’Donnell 1-1, Oisin Gallen 0-3 (1 2pt), Conor O’Donnell 0-3, Hugh McFadden, Ryan McHugh, Michael Murphy (f), Ciaran Moore 0-1 each 

Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-6 (1 2ptf, 4f), Lachlan Murray 0-6 (1 2pt), Conor Glass 1-1, Paul Cassidy 0-2, Eoin McEvoy, Niall Loughlin, Ethan Doherty, Conor Doherty, 0-1 each.

DONEGAL: S Patton; M Curran, B McCole, E Gallagher; R McHugh, C McGonagle, C Moore; C Thompson, H McFadden; S O'Donnell, N O'Donnell, D Ó Baoill; C O'Donnell, O Gallen, J Brennan. 

Subs: M Murphy for N O’Donnell, O McFadden-Ferry for Curran (both half-time), C McColgan for Brennan (50), E McHugh for McFadden (59), O Doherty for R.McHugh (59) 

DERRY: O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, M Bradley; C Doherty, B Rogers, P McGrogan; C Glass, A Tohill; D Higgins, P Cassidy, E Doherty; N Loughlin, S McGuigan, L Murray.

Subs: M Doherty for McEvoy (50), C McMonagle for Loughlin (53), D Cassidy for Rogers (59), P McGurk for McGrogan (66).

REFEREE: J Henry (Mayo).