Eoin Bradley the matchwinner as Derry edge out 14-man Down

Eoin Bradley’s injury-time point clinched a 0-12 to 0-11 win for Derry against 14-man Down at Celtic Park.

The full-forward, who was making his first championship start in two years, converted a late free to break Down hearts after the visitors had kicked four unanswered points to set up a tense finish.

Down played almost half the game with 14 men after Conaill McGovern was sent off shortly after the restart following an off-the-ball incident with Enda Lynn.

But the dismissal galvanised Jim McCorry’s side and they kept in touch through the free-taking of Paul Devlin, who scored six points from placed balls, only for Bradley to deny them at the death.

The game was a stop-start affair with the fussy refereeing of Eddie Kinsella frustrating both teams.

Down took an early lead through a Donal O’Hare free, while Mark Lynch was guilty of spurning a couple of decent chances at the other end.

Bradley got Derry off the mark from a free on five minutes and the full-forward then added another from play with a superb first-time shot from the right wing.

Kevin McKernan negated Derry’s blanket defence with a long-range point but Down soon found themselves trailing again, Enda Lynn pointing after excellent fielding from Fergal Doherty and Bradley slotting another free.

Lynch and Paul Devlin exchanged a brace of points before McKernan scored his second of the game after playing a one-two with Conor Maginn, but Down were were punished for two poor wides as Lynch fired over two excellent points in injury-time.

Harsh

Trailing 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval, Down came out fighting in the second half and scored after just 18 seconds, Conor Laverty fisting over the bar.

But their hopes were hit by the harsh sending off of McGovern. Referee Kinsella consulted with his umpires before brandishing the red card to the wing-back.

Lynch and Bradley increased their tallies to put Derry four points ahead but they were guilty of taking their foot off the gas, going 21 minutes without a score.

Down rallied and midfielder Devlin kicked three successive frees before good play from O’Hare allowed Laverty to level proceedings with 15 minutes remaining.

Substitute Caolan O’Boyle ended Derry’s scoreless streak when he fisted over Kevin Johnston’s undercooked effort, but Devlin replied for Down with his sixth point of the afternoon.

Devlin departed shortly afterwards with cramp and Down lacked composure in attack as they chased a late winner.

And they were punished in injury time after Bradley evaded Niall Madine’s tackle and raced towards goal. The Glenavon soccer star played in Johnston, who was cynically taken out by Darren O’Hagan as he was about to pull the trigger.

O’Hagan was black-carded and Bradley slotted the resultant free to book Derry’s progress. They will face the winners of Armagh and Donegal in the Ulster semi-finals on June 27, live on Sky Sports.

Derry: T Mallon; O Duffy, B Rogers, D McBride; K Johnston, C McKaigue, C McFaul; N Holly, F Doherty; SL McGoldrick, M Lynch (0-5, 2f), E Lynn (0-1); B Heron, E Bradley (0-5, 3f), D Heavron.

Subs: C O’Boyle (0-1) for Herron (53), T O’Brien for Lynn (62).

Down: S Kane; D O’Hagan, L Howard, R Boyle; D Turley, B McArdle, C McGovern; P Fitzpatrick, P Devlin (0-6, 6f); C Mooney, C Maginn, K McKernan (0-2); M Poland, C Laverty (0-2), D O’Hare (0-1, 1f).

Subs: P Downey for Maginn (47), J Johnston for Fitzpatrick (58), A McConville for Mooney (65), N Madine for Devlin (68), D O’Hanlon for O’Hagan (black card, 70).

Ref: E Kinsella (Laois)