In a tightly contested Ulster MFC final, Derry seized its second consecutive minor football championship title, beating Armagh 0-12 to 1-7. The victory marked Derry’s fifth title in the past decade, propelled by instrumental players Eamon Young and Ger Dillon. The pair contributed an impressive total of 10 points to Derry’s winning score, resisting a late surge by Armagh at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh.
The match saw both teams leveled three times during the initial quarter, as scores were exchanged by Young, Dillon, Eoin Duffy, Seán Woods, and Keelan McEntee. However, the game took a turn when Armagh’s prolific full forward Duffy scored a goal in the 20th minute, assisted by midfielder Jack Loughran.
However, Derry countered with the next five points, with three scored during Ross Marsden’s black card absence around half-time, taking Derry into a lead they would not relinquish. Leading by a slender margin at half-time (0-7 to 1-3), Derry successfully restricted their opponents’ movement for substantial periods.
Towards the end of the game, Derry managed to stay ahead despite Armagh rallying back with points scored by Aaron Garvey and Fionn Toale. The deficit was cut to a single point with 10 minutes remaining. Derry held their nerve, with Dillion, Young and Luke Grant boosting the lead to four points. A Ruairí Biggs’ goal attempt was thwarted by a fantastic save from Armagh goalkeeper Michael Finnegan.
Armagh unleashed a final offensive onslaught, but only managed two additional points from Duffy’s free shots. Despite the loss, the team are still optimistic and upbeat for the upcoming All-Ireland series.
Derry’s team consisted of J McCloy, C McNally, R Canavan, R Collins, L Grant (0-1), C O Mianain, D McGuckin, J Sargent (0-1), C McBride, E Young (0-5, 0-1f), G Dillon (0-5, 0-3f), C Hargan, C McCullagh, R Biggs, and D Rocks.
The substitution lineup in the match witnessed P Haran replacing McNally at the 42-minute mark, and C Rocks coming on for Hargan five minutes later. At 54 minutes, T McHugh filled in for McBride. The Armagh team comprised of M Finnegan, T Fox, G O’Rourke, and C Wilson. Fergus Toale, S Woods (0-1), and D O’Rourke were other key players; J Loughran, D O’Callaghan, A Garvey (0-1), J McCooe, K McEntee (0-1), Finn Toale (0-1), E Duffy (1-3, 0-2f) and R Marsden completed the team. Marsden was substituted by L Bellew at the 36th minute, while O’Callaghan and Garvey were replaced by O Gribben and S Loughran respectively. P Comiskey replaced D O’Rourke, and C Dunne stepped in for Woods, both at 61 minutes. The match was refereed by B McMenamin from Cavan.