McKenna Cup: Derry 0-12 Donegal 0-6 - Oak Leafers retain silverware in Omagh decider

Derry claimed their 13th McKenna Cup success following a 0-12 to 0-6 win over Donegal at a blustery Healy Park in Omagh on Saturday.

It was largely a forgettable affair with both managers perhaps keeping their powder dry ahead of their Ulster championship tussle on 20 April.

Both sides were left to count the cost of an on-field scuffle on 52 minutes.

Derry's Brendan Rogers and Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty were issued with straight red-cards.

Match referee Conor Curren appeared to signal that Rogers' dismissal was for an alleged stamp on a Donegal player, while McBrearty was dismissed for his part in the short melee that followed.

Suspensions from the red cards will not carry over into the Allianz Football League campaign and only apply to the McKenna Cup.

• Derry's McKenna Cup final win over Donegal as it happened

Thankfully, tempers settled down and the remainder of the contest was played out without major incident.

In a first half dominated by poor finishing, Derry took a slender 0-5 to 0-3 lead into the changing rooms at the break.

As the wind and rain continued to batter down on the Tyrone venue, Derry adapted better to the conditions.

Conor Doherty ruled the roost at midfield and once Shane McGuigan found his range, there was no stopping the Derry men as they deservedly claimed a 13th Dr McKenna Cup.

Both teams took some time to settle into their stride in Omagh and in front of an attendance of 4,825 had to wait a full eight minutes for the first score of the game.

Gavin Mulreany was given a rare opportunity ahead of Shaun Patton in the Donegal goal, and the Naomh Naille custodian showed the Donegal management that he is a more than able deputy for Patton by converting a free from all of 47 meters.

Derry's opening score of the contest arrived four minutes later through the trusty left-foot of McGuigan.

But with the game being played in the presence of strong wind, both attacks found it difficult to hit their targets in the opening half, with both side guilty of some wayward shooting.

The first score from play arrived in the 18th minute through Derry's Declan Cassidy, and this signalled the beginning of a dominant period for Micky Harte's men.

Three further frees from All-star McGuigan looked like giving Derry a commanding three-point lead at the break, but a McBrearty free on the cusp of the half-time whistle meant that there were just two between the sides at the break.

McGuigan turned provider in the first attack of the second half, setting up Paul Cassidy for a delightful score from play, before converting his fifth free of the game two minutes later.

With the game slipping away from them, Donegal introduced Daire O'Baoill in the 48th minute. And the Gweedore man made an instant impact by floating over a lovely score from the right wing.

But Derry came roaring back and points from Conor Doherty and McGuigan opened up a five-point lead for Derry.

After the sending off of Rogers and McBrearty, Mulreany converted his second free of the evening as Donegal threatened to mount a comeback. Oisin Gallen was also sent off late on for a second yellow card.

But those plans were quickly laid to bed as the impressive Doherty split the posts expertly from distance before Niall Toner and Niall Loughlin confirmed a first back-to-back Dr McKenna Cup success for the Oak Leafers in 54 years.

Derry: O Lynch, D Baker, E McEvoy, C McKaigue, C McCluskey, G McKinless, P McGrogan, C Doherty (0-1), B Rogers, D Gilmore, D Cassidy (0-1), P Cassidy (0-1) N Loughlin (0-1), S McGuigan (0-6f), C Murphy (0-1)

Replacements: N Toner (0-1) for McEvoy (HT)

Donegal: G Mulreany (0-2F), M Curran, D MacGiolla Bhride, K McGettigan, R McHugh (0-1), C McGonagle, P Mogan, O Caulfield, C Thompson (0-1), O Doherty, S O'Donnell, C Moore, P McBrearty (0-1F), O Gallen, J Brennan.

Replacements: Daire O'Baoill (0-1) for Caulfield (48), R Frain for Brennan (53), L McGlynn for O'Donnell (59), J Mac Ceallbhui for Doherty (59), S McMenamin for Curran (69)

Referee: C Curren (Down)