Downey inspires Derry to victory over Armagh in Ulster Minor Championship

Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship 2020
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Derry 1-07, Armagh 0-08

Nine months; 270 or so days; 6,000 odd hours - no matter which way you put it Derry minors have had to wait for their day in the winter sun and when it finally arrived their festive match winner had a little touch of the ghost of Christmas past.

'Lavey's Downey leads Derry to Championship victory' seems more 1993 than 2020 but Oak Leaf fans needn't adjust their glasses. Matthew Downey is already well known among Oak Leaf Gaels as a precocious talent but if there's pressure associated with being the son of an All Ireland winning captain, the teenager didn't show it on Sunday.

Derry's Peter McCullagh nips in ahead of two Armagh defenders during the Oak Leafers' championship victory in Owenbeg on Sunday.Derry's Peter McCullagh nips in ahead of two Armagh defenders during the Oak Leafers' championship victory in Owenbeg on Sunday.
Derry's Peter McCullagh nips in ahead of two Armagh defenders during the Oak Leafers' championship victory in Owenbeg on Sunday.
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Downey Junior hit 0-5 and was the inspiration behind a performance that was controlled rather exhilarating against a solid but at times cynical Armagh team whose own talisman, Ronan Fitzpatrick, impressed throughout. He matched Downey's haul of 0-5 but his supporting cast was not in the same class as Downey's with Martin Boyle's young Oak Leafers deserving winners thanks to a crucial second half goal from Magherafelt's Dan Higgins that owed everything to the vision of his Lavey captain.

Despite dominating, Derry still trailed at 0-5 to 0-6 six minutes into the second half when Downey, being man marked by Armagh's Adam Garvey, picked up possession just south of the Orchard 45m line. Even against the Armagh defensive blanket, Downey had both the ability and vision to pick out Higgins' superbly blindside run, splitting the Orchard backline with a pass tempting enough to draw Armagh keeper Cathal Doherty off his line.

With Downey's pass matched by Higgins' run, the Magherafelt player nipped in front of the Armagh No. 1 to touch the ball past him and roll an easy finish into the unguarded net for a two point lead.

Even then, Armagh rallied to draw level as the game drifted into its final 10 minutes but when Derry needed a match winner, Downey appeared once more, winning and converted the free that edged his team ahead with four minutes left before despatching another placed ball to book Derry a semi-final meeting with Tyrone on January 2nd.

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The result was nothing more than Derry deserved. Boyle's team were the more positive throughout against a well organised and physically imposing Armagh side. Orchard boss Ciaran McKeever had named Antoin McParland and Sean Conlan at 10 and 12, both more recognisable as midfielders, and they supplemented an already towering midfield duo of Michael Burnett and Oran McCafferty.

Behind them Emmet Magee was the chief sweeper and, despite picking up eight yellow cards, Armagh provided Derry with a defensive conundrum they failed to solve in the opening half as the visitors turned around with a slender 0-4 to 0-3 lead.

There was little to get overly enthusiastic in that opening half, both sides understandably showing signs of their lack of recent activity. There was no shortage of effort but with rustiness apparent and difficult underfoot conditions, it was never going to be a classic.

It took Fitzpatrick only 15 seconds to highlight the threat he carried with a nice point but Derry were soon back on level terms when referee Enda McFeely spotted an off the ball foul on Charlie Diamond and Downey pointed the free.

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A fifth minute booking for Armagh sweeper Magee for a high tackle on Diamond would prove costly for McKeever's team. Magee was playing well but had to be replaced a minute before the break after an accumulation of fouls had him skirting too close to a dismissal and his absence was felt after half-time when Derry turned the screw.

Two more Fitzpatrick points, the first a free and the second after Derry's Sean Deehan had done superbly to clear an effort off the line, put Armagh 0-3 to 0-1 in front and Derry were struggling to make any inroads.

A delicious Downey sidestep bought him the space to tee up Higgins for Derry's second point but another excellent score from Fitzpatrick left it 0-4 to 0-2 with 20 minutes on the clock and Armagh would have been happy with how they were containing a fancied Derry side.

Desertmartin's Lachlan Murray reduced the deficit to a single point and Derry should have gone into half-time leading when Downey did superbly to win a high, miscued shot before holding off two defenders to set up Jody McDermott who was bursting through the middle. However, the Glen player dragged his shot only inches past the base of the Armagh post to ensure Armagh turned around with a 0-4 to 0-3 lead.

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Both sides introduced substitutes after the break, Calum Downey, son of Seamus, adding to the feeling of nostalgia for the home side as he took his place for the second half in place of the hard working Peter McCullagh.

Downey and Armagh's Garvey swapped scores before the Lavey playmaker tied the game at 0-5 apiece with a free from a foul he won himself on 34 minutes.

Another delightful Fitzpatrick effort had edged Armagh back in front on two minutes before Downey's pass and Higgins' finish saw Derry take the game by the scruff of the neck.

And it wasn't just the effect the goal had on the scoreboard, it was the confidence and assurance it gave the young Derry team. Even when Armagh drew level, Derry looked the team in control.

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Downey's late double took Derry over the line with Armagh's late pressure restricted to one high ball in which Derry coped comfortably with. Pre-match Derry manager Martin Boyle had urged his players to seize what he described as a "Christmas bonus" of a championship that many feared they would never get to play. The performance wasn't perfect but the application and attitude was, especially when the questions were asked and that will only help the players as they prepare for Tyrone.

They can expect an even tougher task against the Red Hands but this win at least ensures a Happy Christmas!

Derry scorers: Matthew Downey (0-5, 4f), Dan Higgins (1-1), Lachlan Murray (0-1),

Armagh scorers: Ronan Fitzpatrick (0-5, 2f), Adam Garvey (0-1), Matthew Lennon (0-1), Darragh McMullen (0-1),

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Derry: Kian McGonigle, Aidan McGonigle, Sean Deehan, Connor Shiels, Mark Doherty, Eoin McEvoy, Lee Brady, Dan Higgins, Patrick O'Kane, Raymond Dillon, Matthew Downey, Jody McDermott, Charlie Diamond, Lachlan Murray, Peter McCullagh. (Subs) Calum Downey for P McCullagh, HT; Patrick McGurk for A McGonigle, 61mins;

Yellow Cards: P O'Kane, 41mins;

Armagh: Cathal Doherty, David Mallie, Gareth Murphy, Emmket Magee, Adam Garvey, Niall Dummigan, Fergal O'Brien, Michael Burnett, Oran McCafferty, Antoin McParland. Ronan Fitzpatrick, Sean Conlan, Darragh McMullen, Ciran Donnelly, Caolan Finnegan. (Subs) Zion McKernan for E Magee, 29mins; Matthew Lennon for C Donnelly, HT; Michael McConville for M Burnett, 41mins; Fergal Kieran for O McCafferty, 60mins;

Yellow cards: E Magee, 6mins; M Burnett, 28mins; R Fitzpatrick, 30mins; A McParland, 37mins; O McCafferty, 37mins; F O'Brien, 50mins; D Mallie, 43mins; D McMullen, 53mins;

Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)