McWilliams tips the balance for Derry

ULSTER MFC QUARTER-FINAL DERRY progressed to meet Antrim in the semi-final after edging a thrilling contest at Celtic Park.

Midfielder Oisin McWilliams was outstanding for the Oak Leafers, whose scores were spread across 10 players.

Three points from the impressive Darragh Canavan, son of Peter, backboned Tyrone’s 0-9 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Canavan opened the scoring before Derry hit back strongly, with Simon McErlain’s effort putting them 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.

Tyrone then hit the next five scores, with Daniel Millar’s point meaning that every Red Hand forward had worked the scoreboard.

Derry drew level before Canavan pulled Tyrone

clear again.

Badly under par in the first half, Derry quickly slipped into top gear in the second. Trailing 0-12 to 0-10 with 20 minutes to go, they took a firm grip at midfield and proceeded to score eight of the next nine points to lead 0-18 to 0-13 in injury-time.

PT Cunningham’s penalty goal was just a consolation.

SCORERS – Derry: O McWilliams 0-4 (1f), P Quigg (2fs), L McWilliams (2fs) 0-3 each, R Mullan 0-2, S McErlain, D Cassidy, JP Devlin, P McGrogan, F Mortimer, M McGrogan 0-1 each. Tyrone: PT Cunningham 1-2 (0-2fs), D Canavan 0-3, J Campbell 0-2, M McGuigan, P Og McCartan, D Millar, B McNulty, R Gormley, A Connolly, O Mallon 0-1 each.

DERRY – O Hartin, C McCluskey, O McGill, SMcKeever, C McShane, P McGrogan, SMcErlain, O McWilliams, D Rafferty, P Quigg, D Cassidy, J PDevlin, R Mullan, A Doherty, C Murphy Subs: B McCarron for A Doherty (30), L McWilliams for C Murphy (30), M Bradley for S McKeever (HT), F Mortimer for JP Devlin (44), M McGrogan for D Cassidy (44), T Walsh for F Mortimer (BC 59)

TYRONE – L Quinn, C Breen, A Fox, P Mullan, D McGuigan, C Grimes, C Devlin, B McNulty, R Gormley, M McGuigan, P Og McCartan, D Millar, J Campbell, PT Cunningham, D Canavan. Subs: A Connolly for R Gormley (48), C Quinn for J Campbell (51), O Mallon for B McNulty (54), O Sludden M McGuigan (58)

REF – C Dourneen (Cavan)