Allianz Football League Division One
Derry 0-16 (0-1-14) Galway 1-13 (1-3-7)
By Michael Wilson at Celtic Park
Substitute Lachlan Murray inspired Derry’s superb second half fightback as Paddy Tally’s Oak Leafers picked up a first league point of the season against a Galway team who remain unbeaten after three games.
Indeed Padraic Joyce’s outfit looked set for a third straight victory when they lead by nine at half-time, but where instead grateful to John Daly’s late block on Ethan Doherty’s shot with only 10 seconds left on the clock.
It was a remarkable transformation from the home side. Tepid and laboured in the opening half, Derry were through the gears to outscore the Tribesmen by 0-12 to 0-3 in a thrilling second half in which Murray helped himself to 0-3 in a hugely impressive cameo.
There was more good news for Derry with the late introduction off the bench of Padraig McGrogan for his first appearance since suffering a cruciate ligament injury nine months ago.
Honours even, with both side having plenty top take from a game that only really caught fire in the second half. Both teams will feel they should have won; both won’t be too disappointed with the draw.
Coming into the game with a perfect record after two games, Galway started like a side completely at ease with Gaelic football’s bright new era, Walsh in particular enjoying himself with 0-6 before half-time, two of which were from his now trademark two pointers.
In contrast Derry’s build up looked laborious, too many passes, too slow and lacking imagination throughout an opening half that was dominated by the Tribesmen who could have been further ahead than their eventual 1-10 to 0-04 interval lead.
That came about largely thanks to Dylan’s McHugh’s ninth minute goal which handed Padraic Joyce’s team a grip that tightened as the opening half progressed. And like the five Kerry hit in Celtic Park two weeks previous, this was another Derry won’t want to see back again.
The excellent John Maher was the architect, picking out McHugh who had ran off Anton Tohill’s shoulder to get himself in on goal. The half-back still had plenty to do, but despite his low shot looking central, it still had too much for Neil McNicholl making his second appearance in the Oak Leaf net.
The goal was the game’s third score after early points from Shane McGuigan for Derry and Cillian O Curraoin for Galway, but thereafter only Paul Cassidy’s three points put a dent in Galway’s first half charge.
Walsh, who had been quiet in the opening quarter, exploded into life on 19 minutes with his opening two pointer, firing over from out under the main Celtic Park stand, and then followed it up with a second less than 90 seconds later.
The scoring burst took Galway to 1-8 against Derry’s 0-3 and it could have been worse for the home side when Daly’s sublime ball picked out the inside run of Matthew Tierney who was through on goal. Conor Doherty was chasing back, and he fouled Tierney.
Celtic Park held it’s breath, but free was referee David Gough’s decision, Walsh tapping over to make it a personal 0-5 without reply.
Cassidy’s third stemmed the tide momentarily but when Walsh sold a lovely dummy and pointed, Galway were well worth their commanding nine point interval lead.
McGuigan’s second of the game, a free after a foul on Conor Glass, signalled more intent from the home side. A fisted point from Cein Darcy’s was Galway’s instant response but within seconds Derry keeper Nicholl was charging through on to McFaul’s probing pass.
A midfielder by trade, McNicholl did everything right, surging inside and firing a shot that bound for the top corner until John Daly did brilliantly to get his hand to it and deflect the shot over the bar.
A point was scant reward for a great move but the pendulum had swung and Derry were making hay. Both McFaul and Toner had already sent efforts short before Galway were penalised for a three-on-three infraction and McGuigan hit Derry’s first two pointer of the evening from the resulting free.
Now six down, he introduction of Murray transformed the Oak Leaf attack his point, along with two from McGuigan and Conor Glass brought Tally’s men back to within three at 0-11 to 1-11 with 15 minutes left to play.
Walsh landed his third pointer, this time from the free moved forward, but it failed to halt the Derry charge. Murray’s third point was followed by two McGuigan frees to tie the game.
Derry looked set for victory when Doherty broke through, but John Daly had other ideas.
Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-8 (1tpf, 3f), Paul Cassidy 0-3, Neil McNicholl 0-1, Lachlan Murray 0-3, Conor Glass 0-1,
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-8 (2tp, 1tpf, 1f), Cillian O Curraoin 0-1 (01), Dylan McHugh 1-0, Matthew Tierney 0-1, John Maher 0-1, Sam O’Neill 0-1, Cein Darcy 0-1,
Derry: Neil McNicholl, Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Martin Bradley, Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Declan Cassidy, Conor Glass, Anton Tohill, Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty, Ben McCarron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Toner.
Subs: Lachlan Murray for B McCarron, 43mins; Mark Doherty for D Cassidy, 50mins; Cahir McMonagle for N Toner, 58mins; Padraig McGrogan for McBradley, 64mins
Galway: Connor Gleeson, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Liam Silke, Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Sean Kelly, Paul Conroy, John Maher, Sam O’Neill, Shane Walsh, Cein Darcy, Cillian O Curraoin, Matthew Tierney, Finnian O Laoi.
Subs: Robert Finnerty for C O Curraoin, 43mins; Johnny Heaney for F O Laoi, 48mins; Kieran Molloy for S O’Neill, 54mins; Daniel O’Flaherty for C Darcy, 60mins.
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
