Minor boss Glackin delighted as Derry bounce back to make All Ireland semi-final

Derry 2-12, Roscommon1-9

Derry Minor manager Kieran Glackin said his players had provided the perfect response to a "long week" after goals from Gabriel Gormley and Rocco Devlin defeated Connacht champions Roscommon and secured an All Ireland semi-final against Cork.

A superb opening half in which the Oak Leafers dominated both kick-outs set the platform for a six point victory which came only eight days after their Ulster Final disappointment against Tyrone in Letterkenny.

Derry should have been further ahead at the break that day and paid the price for an uncharacteristic 15 minute spell at the start of the second half but showed their character from the first whistle in Breffni Park.

Coll and calm in possession, Devlin got Derry off the mark inside 90 seconds before lively playmaker Lorcan Higgins doubled the Derry advantage. A Joshua Coyne '45' finally got the Rossies off the mark but Derry had the upper hand and made ti count 22 minutes in.

Tomás Devlin and Higgins combined on the left, the young Magherafelt player then picking out midfielder Gabriel Gormley who punched to the net for the game's opening goal. Further points from Don Mulholland, Neil McDermott and Tadgh Bradley moved Derry six points clear and they could have been out of sight after Mulholland sent a gilt edged opportunity inches wide. Despite the miss, Derry went into half-time deservedly leading 1-5 to 0-2.

Early second half scores from Higgins, Jarlath McCartney and Rocco Devlin cemented Derry's grip before Roscommon hit back with an unanswered 1-02 after

substitute's Seán Duggan two-pointer and a Jayden Concannon goal which reduced Derry's lead to just four

But if that burst offered Roscommon hope, it was soon extinguished by Neil McDermott's two point free and Rocco's superb individual goal to cap a display of class and character from Glackin's team

"The important thing we found this week was that we had to show the boys that we weren't as poor as the short period (against Tyrone)," explained the Derry manager.

"We showed them how we had created so many goal chances in the first half (of the Ulster Final), how Tyrone got a couple of easy scores and that the start of that second half didn't really do us justice. "So we did talk about it this week, but then we had to very quickly park it and look towards Roscommon because we knew we had a really good opportunity. It was a massive prize for getting to the Ulster final, having this All Ireland Quarter-final. "So we parked it (the Ulster Final) quickly and we moved on. We trained well this week and it's a good group. There's real character in the lads and I'm very pleased for them as a group because they have worked hard and come together. I'm just really pleased for them, that they were able to get a performance and get into an All Ireland semi-final."

Moneymore keeper Michael Doherty has been one of the shining lights of the run to the semi-final and Glackin was full of praise for the young keeper's excellent kick-outs which proved the platform for Derry's win.

"We were 100 per cent for our own kick-outs first half and it's now almost a game of kick-outs and what you can do with it in between," added Glackin, "If you can't win your kick-outs you're leaving yourself with a lot of work to do. "We really went after that this week to make sure we were better on our kick-outs. We know Michael (Doherty) is a fantastic keeper for shot stopping, we're really lucky to have him but we also worked hard to get his kick-outs to that level and, look, he was just brilliant.

"I don't like referring back to last week, but we just wanted to lads to do themselves justice today. We wanted them to get the performance a level we know they can do because there's loads of good footballers in that team, there's loads of good characters; a good mix of toughness, speed.... all the things that make a good team. "We were hopeful we would get a performance and they would do themselves justice. We talked about not having any regrets and making sure they didn't leave their minor career behind them and I think they really did that today."

Saturday's victory sets up a semi-final meeting with Munster champions Cork in two weeks' time after The Rebels' 3-19 to 1-12 victory over Meath in FBD Semple Stadium.

"It's going to be a huge game. Cork won very, very comprehensively and I know they've come through Munster, beating Kerry a few times on the way and again after extra-time in the final. "Cork are a huge physical team and it's going to be a huge task but it's something to get our teeth into. We have two weeks to get ready for it. The past three weeks have been exhausting, coming from Donegal to today game on game so now we have two weeks. We will rest for a few days and then get out teeth into Cork for an All Ireland semi-final which is something nice to look forward to."

Derry scorers: Rocco Devlin 1-2, Gabriel Gormley 1-0, Neil McDermott 0-3 (1 2pf), Lorcan Higgins 0-2, Tadhg Bradley 0-2, Don Mulholland 0-1, Jarlath McCartney 0-1, Tomás Devlin 0-1.

Roscommon scorers: Seamie Carthy 0-3 (1 2pf, 1f), Jayden Concannon 1-0, Seán Duggan 0-2 (1 2p), Ronan Carr 0-2 (1 2p), Joshua Coyne 0-1 (1’45), Cathal Nerney 0-1 (1f).

Derry: Michael Doherty; Dan McEldowney, Conor Sargent, Dara McKaigue; Jarlath McCartney, Connail Campbell, Lorcan Higgins; Gabriel Gormley, Joey Mullan; Conor O’Kane, Dan Mulholland, Neil McDermott; Tomás Devlin, Tadhg Bradley, Rocco Devlin. Subs: Cormac McGuckian for Campbell (51), Fionn McGilloway for Gormley (58), Pól McPeake for McDermott (59), Tadhg Scullion for McCartney (59), Donnacha Collins for Rocco Devlin (60).

Roscommon: Zac Mullally; Dara Kelleher, Conor Tighe, Colm Fitzgerald; Tadgh Fallon, Jack Brooks, Enda Browne; Jack Lally, Seamie Carthy; Ronan Carr, Joshua Coyne, Bobby Lenehan; Cathal Nerney, Jayden Jennings, Jayden Concannon. Subs: Seán Duggan for Coyne (HT), James O’Brien for Jennings (35), Aaron Martin for Nerney (35), Dylan Goode for Lenehan (53), Daniel Nerney for Browne (59), Mickey McTeigue for Martin (temp, 60).

Referee: Eamonn English (Dublin).