Derry set up All-Ireland minor semi-final with Cork
ROCCO ROLL: Key Derry man Rocco Devlin in full flight. File pic: INPHO/Evan Logan
Derry bounced back from their Ulster MFC final defeat to Tyrone with victory over Roscommon on Saturday night in Cavan.
Goals from Rocco Devlin and Gabriel Gormley were key scores in an assured performance.
It was a victory built on winning 16 of the game’s first 20 kick-outs - from both ends – as the Oakleafers took root.
They also needed the heroics of outstanding goalkeeper Michael Doherty and his array of saves on top of his kick-out variation.
Derry won the throw-in, and after a sustained spell of possession, Devlin’s pace saw him cut in to score the opening point after 90 seconds.
By the time Tadhg Bradley played in Lorcan Higgins for Derry’s second, the Rossies were off target at the other end.
In a cagey and slow first half, Derry controlled their own kick-out and won five of Roscommon’s nine.
Joshua Coyne nailed a 45 for the first Roscommon score after 12 minutes before Derry hit for goal.
It began with Tomás Devlin’s incisive backdoor cut with Gabriel Gormley palming home at the far post for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 22 minutes.
Neil McDermott, Don Mulholland and Tadhg Bradley registered scores for a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead.
It could’ve been even more after a direct move when a Doherty kick-out was flicked over the top but Mulholland pulled his shot wide.
Derry won the throw-in at the start of the second half on the way to a second Lorcan Higgins score.
Their midfield control continued with Tomás Devlin then adding a point after a two-point free from goalkeeper Doherty broke loose in the Roscommon goalmouth.
A Rocco Devlin point put Derry into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead after 36 minutes before the Roscommon kickback.
The Connacht champions were off colour on their shooting and their four-week layoff left them playing second fiddle to a more battle-hardened Derry.
A two-pointer from Seán Duggan with his first touch since coming off the bench was a Roscommon glimmer of hope before they found the net seconds later.
Derry were turned over after securing a short kickout. Jayden Concannon was twice denied by the brilliance of goalkeeper Doherty but Derry failed to clear the danger. It allowed Seamie Carthy to square the ball for Concannon to flick to the net.
Derry’s response was the breaking of the game. Roscommon had the gap back to four but a two-point free from McDermott and a second Bradley point cancelled out the goal.
Roscommon battled away in the attempt to save the game with two-pointers all during the final quarter. Ronan Carr’s effort had the margin back to four but Tomás Devlin had another response.
Rocco Devlin raced through to bag a sensational second Derry goal with five minutes to go. On the flip side, Doherty made further saved to ensure Derry’s safe passage.
The Oakleafers now face Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final after the Rebels’ win over Meath.
R Devlin 1-2, N McDermott 0-3 (1tpf), G Gormley 1-0, T Bradley, L Higgins 0-2 each, D Mulholland, T Devlin and J McCartney 0-1 each
S Carthy 0-3 (1pt), J Concannon 1-0, R Carr, S Duggan 0-2tp each, C Nerney (f) and J Coyne (45) 0-1 each
: M Doherty; Dan McEldowney, C Sargent, D McKaigue; J McCartney, C Campbell, L Higgins; G Gormley, J Mullan; C O’Kane, D Mulholland, N McDermott; T Devlin, T Bradley, R Devlin Subs: C McGuckin for Campbell (52), U McCloskey for Gormley (59), P McPeake for McDermott (62), T Scullion for McCartney (62), D Collins for Devlin (65)
: Z Mulally; D Kelliher, C Tighe, C Fitzgrerald; T Fallon, J Brooks, E Browne; J Lally, S Carty; R Carr, J Coyne, B Lenehan; C Nerney, J Jennings, J Concannon Subs: Sean Duggan for Coyne (HT), J O’Brien for Jennings (36) A Martin for Nerney (36), D Goode for Lenehan (54), D Nerney for Browne (62), M McTeigue for Martin (65)
: Eamonn English (Dublin)
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