DERR TO DREAM

Ulster champions come from behind to take down Dublin on raucous Celtic Park night

Derry 1-11 Dublin 0-13 Allianz NFL Division 2 BRENDAN ROGERS nailed the winning point with the last kick of the game to put Derry on the brink of promotion in a gripping Division Two clash in Celtic Park. Dublin led by five points at half time but were beaten for the first time this year after a rousing finish by the home side who came alive after a dreadful first half. Derry only hit the front for the first time in the 69th minute through sub Lachlann Murray and while Ciaran Kilkenny and Colm Basquel steadied Dublin, Derry were the team pressing for a winner.

They got it through Rogers in the fifth minute of stoppage time – he was outstanding in the second half and showed massive hunger to jink his way through and get his shot away before the final whistle blew.

Derry might need still one point from their last two games to secure promotion with Dublin still in the mix.

The pre-match atmosphere crackled with Celtic Park packed for Dublin’s first game here since 2014 but the dominant Dubs were able to keep the home crowd quiet in the first half.

Seven of their match-day 26 last night were also involved eight years ago, while Derry only had one in Benny Heron.

However the suggestion that Dublin are still relying too much on the big names of the past seemed laughable in the first half which Dessie Farrell’s men totally bossed.

Cormac Costello and Brian Fenton each scored twice from play with John Small, Con O’callaghan and Lee Gannon also penetrating Derry’s defensive web.

Fenton’s aerial strength and ability to score from range also hurt Derry. For the first time in this campaign, they seemed unsure of themselves and their forwards mis-fired.

Shane Mcguigan missed an easy free, Niall Toner dropped a free short and Niall Loughlin hit a one-on-one straight at David O’hanlon.

Paul Cassidy scored their sole first-half point from play after five minutes and a Mcguigan free later was all they managed in the opening 35 minutes as they trailed 0-7 to 0-2 at half time.

There had to be a kick in the Ulster champions and they soon upped the intensity.

The game erupted with Niall Toner’s goal 10 minutes into the second half.

Half-time sub Gareth Mckinless had a huge hand in it, breaking the line and sneaking in at the near post. He shovelled the ball across the square and it was bundled home at the back post by Toner.

The crowd were engaged, with energised Derry coming alive and Conor Doherty and then Cassidy made it all square in the 56th minute.

Old heads Ciaran Kilkenny and Colm Basquel edged

Dublin back in front but Mcguigan pegged them back with two close-in frees.

Both sides knew how significant it would be for Derry to hit the front for the first time in the game – and everyone in the ground could sense that it was coming.

Rogers was superb for Derry in the second half and his driving run set up sub Lachlann Murray for a wonder point from the wing to put Derry in front in the 69th minute.

Costello’s free teed up a tense finale with sides having chances in stoppage time.

But fittingly it was Rogers who jinked through and booted the winner to send Celtic Park wild.