Donegal begin Ulster SFC title defence with 10-point win over Derry in Ballybofey

April 06, 2025

Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton makes a double save to deny Derry's Shane McGuigan ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

Donegal kept things to script against Derry in Ballybofey this afternoon with a 1-25 to 1-15 victory to advance to the quarter-finals of the Ulster senior football championship.

Dáire Ó Baoill’s superb goal just before half-time helped Jim McGuinness’s men towards a 10-point win in the end which sees the holders facing Monaghan in the last eight of the northern province in Clones on Easter Sunday.

Ranked as 7/1 outsiders before throw-in, a depleted Derry side were 0-2 to 0-1 down when they were awarded a penalty in the ninth minute which saw Donegal ‘keeper Shaun Patton pulling off a double save on Shane McGuigan.

From there, Donegal pulled out to a 0-11 to 0-5 lead before championship debutant Dan Higgins smashed to the net for the Oak Leafers in the 33rd minute.

The Ulster champions came up with the perfect response to that concession and it saw Conor O’Donnell’s point being backed up by Ó Baoill’s sizzling run and low finish to Paddy Tally’s side’s net, leaving the scoreboard reading 1-12 to 1-5 in favour of the hosts at half-time.

Derry made a promising start to the second-half which saw two-pointers from Conor Doherty and Brendan Rogers helping trim their deficit down to two, but the scores of Patrick McBrearty, Ciaran Moore and Peadar Mogan served to steady Donegal’s ship.

McBrearty and Michael Murphy had been late additions to McGuinness’s starting line-up and both players would add to their team’s tally in the closing 20 minutes at MacCumhaill Park prior to substitutes Oisin Gallen and Jamie Brennan rounded off the win in the closing stages.


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