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12th Jan 2023

Young Derry prospect kicks wonder point in last gasp equaliser against Tyrone

Lee Costello

Derry Tyrone McKenna Cup

What a way to finish a game.

Young Derry prospect Lachlan Murray kicked a wonder point in the dying seconds of his side’s McKenna Cup tie against Tyrone to book the Oak Leakers a place in the semi-finals.

The McKenna Cup is often played in horrendous weather, and can be a cocktail of slips, mis-passes and wides, but both these counties performed very competitively despite the elements.

The Red Hands were the stronger team in the first half, largely thanks to Cathal McShane who kicked five points overall, including a couple of spectacular ones in the first half.

Derry Tyrone McKenna Cup

Eoghan Rua’s star man has endured a frustrating few seasons with injuries and has struggled to replicate the form he found in 2019, where he was one of the most devastating forwards in the game.

The red-haired attacker found his shooting boots last night, and although he finished the game in the middle of the park, he looked sharper than ever, and it was exactly the sort of start he would have wanted to kick off his season with.

Conn Kilpatrick lined out at centre half forward, rotating with Richie Donnelly in midfield in an attempt to lure Gareth McKinless out of his centre back role, and create some space in behind.

Derry Tyrone McKenna Cup

The Edendork man picked up the Man of the Match award and was instrumental to everything that was good about Ferghal Logan and Brian Dooher’s team.

Derry re-found their form in the second half and looked determined not to give Tyrone bragging rights, regardless of the fact that it’s just a pre-season tournament.

After becoming Ulster champions last year, Rory Gallagher’s squad will want to prove that they aren’t one-season wonders, and despite not having Conor Glass or Emmet Bradley in their ranks due to Glen’s All-Ireland club run, they still fielded some strong names.

Brendan Rodgers lined out in midfield and the talismanic Shane McGuigan was occupying his usual number 14 spot.

However, it was the young Desertmartin man, Lachlan Murray, who stole the show in the end as the clock ticked through injury time and his side were trailing by a point until he decided to take matters into his own hands.

Not fearful of the win, poor conditions, or indeed the distance, Murray worked the ball onto his right foot, manoeuvred himself into a pocket of space, and kicked a beauty to make sure that Derry were through to the semi-final stages.

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