Details
| Date | Time | Competition | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 May 2022 | 4:00 pm | Ulster SFC | 2022 |
Match Report
Ulster SFC – Derry claim first title since 1998 after extra-time battle
Derry have been crowned Ulster Senior Football Champions this afternoon with a narrow two-point victory after extra time over Donegal at St Tiernachs Park in Clones.
The Oakleafers were the better of the two sides over the 90 minutes of football and took the initiative early in the first half.
Donegal won the throw-in and were met with an immediate wall of red Derry shirts, which was the story of the opening minutes of the game. Both teams set up to make sure the attacking team would have trouble getting into scoring range. Michael Murphy dropped a couple of attempts short either side of a Conor Doherty wide for Derry.
Derry opened the scoring in the game and it was the green flag that was raised as Niall Loughlin found space inside the box to finish well and get Derry’s first goal against Donegal in Championship football in seven attempts.
The game continued in a defensive and cagey fashion. Donegal would reply quickly through a Shane O’Donnell point but the Oak Leaf county would take the next three white flags to race into a five-point lead after 20 minutes.
Two points in quick succession from Peader Mogan who was drafted into the starting lineup late on, and the ever-present Michael Murphy kept Donegal within touching distance.
Loughlin and Rogers for Derry followed by another Mogan score and a McBrearty free for Donegal saw the trading scores continue in the minutes before halftime.
Derry went into the break with a three-point lead but would be disappointed as they controlled the majority of the half. Half-time score Derry 1-06 - 0-06 Donegal.
Donegal bounce back immediately, leveling the game within a minute through Ódhrán McFadden Ferry who found the net after a good save from Langans initial shot.
Donegal took the lead through McHugh and O’Donnell but Loughlin replied from a free to make it a one-point game. Not much to separate the sides as expected before the game.
The close encounter continued as both teams exchanged points once more, with McGuigan pointing to level the game for Derry. Neither team able to take hold of the game with 15 minutes to go.
Michael Murphy showed his experience scoring from range when nothing seemed to be on to give Donegal the lead once more.
Three points in a few minutes, one from Donegal and two from McGuigan for Derry had the game level with 5 minutes to go, and that is how the second half would finish. Extra time required.
The defensive theme continued through the start of extra time. Aaron Doherty got the first score of the half from a forward mark off of a rare Donegal kick pass. Emmet Bradley quickly responded for Derry, the sixth time the sides have been level. This was the only scoring of the first half of extra time. HT of ET with the score tied at 1-13 apiece.
Derry took the lead early in the second half of Extra Time through another McGuigan free, his sixth point of the game. Rogers came forward from centre-half-back to put Derry into a two-point lead but Ciaran Thomson responded immediately to bring it back to one.
It wasn’t to be for Tir Chonaill however as Derry would add the insurance point in the last minute of regulation through Conor Glass. Donegal pushed for a goal with Michael Murphy shooting a free from twenty meters into a crowd of Derry defenders who cleared the ball to the final whistle.
Derry end their twenty-four-year provincial drought in a hard-fought battle with their neighbours and will celebrate long into the night.
Donegal go into the All Ireland qualifiers in a fortnight, while Derry progress to an All Ireland quarter-final, four weeks from today.
Timeline
Past Meetings
 
0-16 0-15Ulster SFC
Ballybofey
Donegal v Derry |
Ground
| St. Tiernachs Park, Clones |
|---|
| St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones, County Monaghan, H23 FK29, Ireland |
Samuel Mansfield
26-year-old TV, Radio, and New Media graduate from MTU Kerry based in the Kingdom with a passion for a variety of sports.
ALL OVER! DERRY END THEIR 24 YEAR DROUGHT AND ARE CROWNED ULSTER CHAMPIONS
Conor Glass makes it a two-point game, Donegal need a goal!
Ryan McHugh picks up a yellow card for Donegal.
Rogers and Thomson exchange points. Still a one-point game.
Paul Brennan on for Michael Langan for Donegal
Derry lead! McGuigan from a free.
Ethan O'Donnell on for Peadar Mogan for Donegal.
The second half of extra time is underway!
Half time in extra time, game still level.
Donegal change, Ciaran Thomson on for Caolan McGonagle.
1 minute additional time.
Emmet Bradley quickly responds for Derry from range, the sixth time the sides have been level.
Aaron Doherty scores from a mark on the 20-meter line. Donegal lead.
Derry control the ball in the opening stages. Substitute Murray puts the ball wide.
Hugh McFadden on for Jason McGee
Extra time begins in Clones.
Extra time is required here in Clones! Nothing to separate the teams through 73 minutes.
Niall O'Donnell on for Shane O'Donnell
Three minutes additional time.
Toner off for Ben McCarron for Derry.
Subs for both teams. Murray on for Herron for Derry. Doherty for McFadden Ferry.
Level game! McGuigan back to back frees has us level in Clones with 5 to go.
Jason McGee gives Donegal a two-point lead
Conor O'Donnell replaces Jamie Brennan for Donegal.
McGuigan points from play. Level game with 15 to go.
Paddy McBrearty puts Donegal up once more. The narrowest of margins in this game.
Conor Doherty levels the game for Derry.
Derry sub. Loughlin off for Emmet Bradley.
McHugh and O'Donnell point for Donegal to take their first lead of the day. McGuigan gets one back from a free to make it a one-point game. Donegal lead.
Rogers and McGee exchange scores within seconds. Level game!
GOAL! Langan's shot is parried into the path of Ódhrán McFadden Ferry who finds the net!
Second half is underway in Clones, no changes for either team.
Half time in Clones. Derry lead by a single score and will be disappointed at halftime as they controlled the majority of the half. Donegal kept the scoreboard ticking to make sure they are still in this game going in at the break. HT Score - Derry 1-06 - 0-06 Donegal.
1 Minute additional time.
Peadar Mogan keeps Donegal in touching distance.
Brendan Rogers gets the better of his namesake Brendan McCole to take a great score.
Loughlin extends the Derry advantage to 4 from a free.
Quickfire scores from Mogan and Murphy for Donegal makes this a one-score game once more.
Niall Loughlin fetches the ball fantastically out of the air and takes his point.
Peadar Mogan gets one back for Donegal. Much needed.
Shane McGuigan points from a free. Derry lead by 5 early on.
Shea Downey points well off his right foot.
Paul Cassidy scores from range for Derry, who once again lead by three.
Shane O'Donnell replies quickly for Donegal.
Niall Loughlin finds the net from close range to put Derry ahead!
Michael Langan shoots from range for Donegal but pulls it just wide.
The cagey opening continues here as both teams struggle to break down the defensive wall set up by their opposition.
Michael Murphy steps up for the first 45 of the afternoon but pulls it left and wide.
Donegal win the throw-in and control possession before Michael Murphy drops an attempted point short.
Underway here in Clones for the Ulster Final!
Both teams marching around the field behind the band in front of a packed house. Derry in Red and White and Donegal in Green and Gold as tradition.
We are aware of one late change for both teams. For Derry, 22. Niall Toner replaces 9. Emmett Bradley. Donegal change 17. Peadar Mogan for 10. Ciaran Thompson.
Derry have some excellent firepower to look to in Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin, and Benny Heron. Donegal will look to the everpresent Paddy McBrearty, Eoghán Bán Gallagher, and Michael Murphy to get them over the line here today.
Donegal come in as slight favourites against a Derry side looking for their first provincial success in twenty-four years. Tir Chonaill have the experience on their side with this being their fourth final in five years.
Samuel Mansfield with you this afternoon from a sun-soaked St Tiernachs Park in Clones as Derry take on Donegal in the Ulster Senior Football Final. 4pm throw-in time.