Donegal and Derry met in the 1993 Ulster Final in a repeat of the previous year’s final which Donegal won en route to winning their first All-Ireland title. Derry hadn’t won the Ulster title since 1987. Winners of the National League in 1992, they were knocked out in the quarter final in 1993 by Donegal (0-10 to 2-3), with Donegal going on to lose the final in a replay to Dublin. The teams were lining out much as expected although Derry sprung a surprise as Danny Quinn was dropped and Fergal McCusker included in the starting line-up. The full backline was re-shaped with Tony Scullion at full-back to mark Manus Boyle. Elsewhere former Antrim player Steven Mulvenna moved out to the half forward line. Donegal played along expected lines.
DONEGAL:
Gary Walsh
John Joe Doherty, Matt Gallagher, Barry McGowan
Mark Crossan, Paul Carr, Martin Shovlin
Michael Gallagher, Brian Murray
James McHugh, Martin McHugh, Joyce McMullan
Declan Bonner, Manus Boyle, John Duffy.
DERRY:
Damien McCusker
Kieran McKeever, Fergal McCusker, Tony Scullion
John McGurk, Henry Downey, Gary Coleman
Brian McGilligan, Anthony Tohill,
Brian McCusker, Damien Barton, Damien Cassidy
Steven Mulvenna, Dermot Heaney, Enda Gormley.
REFEREE: Tommy McDermott (Cavan).
9th minute: On a rain-soaked Clones pitch Donegal get a physical edge on Derry in the first ten minutes as the bone-crunching exchanges see Steven Mulvenna, Tony Scullion and Brian McGilligan all needing medical treatment. Donegal 0-0 Derry 0-0
10th minute: John Joe Doherty breaks out of defence and finds Paul Carr. He in turn switches the play to John Duffy on the wing and the Civil Service man rounds Kieran McKeever and is brought to the ground. Manus Boyle points from the 13m free. Donegal 0-1 Derry 0-0
12th minute: Joyce McMullan fields from a McCusker kick-out, soloes through the Derry defence to the 21m line and hits over his first point in Championship football for six matches. Donegal 0-2 Derry 0-0
13th minute: John Duffy works his way cleverly into a scoring position in front of the Derry goal. While normally a right footed player, he he opts to shoot with his left, despite the more difficult angle, and blasts the ball well wide. Donegal 0-2 Derry 0-0
17th minute: A Derry attack ends with Enda Gormley being dosed down but as the ball goes loose Declan Bonner is involved in a mix-up which sees Brian McCormack gain possession and is fouled. Enda Gormley opens Derry’s account. Donegal 0-2 Derry 0-1
19th minute: A long ball by Brian Murray is broken by Manus Boyle and John Duffy elects to play the ball through on the ground. However, the ball is held up in the waterlogged ground and Duffy is surrounded by three Derry defenders and while pushed off the ball does not get a free. However, Kieran McKeever is penalised for picking the ball off the ground and from the 13m free, Manus Boyle extends the Donegal lead again. Donegal 0-3 Derry 0-1
27th minute: Declan Bonner is again back in the Donegal half-back line and gives the ball away in a poor clearance to Fergal McCusker. He passes to Enda Gormley who hits a good point from play from 35m. Donegal 0-3 Derry 0-2
29th minute: Conditions fool James McHugh in the middle of the field and Anthony Tohill benefits. He finds Damien Cassidy with a hopeful Crossfield ball. Cassidy fields well and hits a good point with his left foot. Donegal 0-3 Derry 0-3
31st minute: Manus Boyle passes to Joyce McMullan around the middle of the field. He soloes forward before finding Paul Carr at his shoulder. Carr finds himself in the clear and for a moment a goal chance is on. Eventually he decides to pass to Martin McHugh but his pass forces McHugh wide but he still is able to hook the ball over the bar. Donegal 0-4 Derry 0-3
31st minute: Dermot McNicholl replaces Dermot Heaney. Donegal 0-4 Derry 0-3
32nd minute: Mark Crossan breaks up a Derry attack and finds James McHugh in space. McHugh makes ground before being grounded by Henry Downey and from the 21m free Declan Bonner makes his only contribution to the game. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-3
36th minute: Slackness in the Donegal defence allows Damien Cassidy to put substitute Dermot McNicholl through. He tums on to his left fool to point with supporters glad that he does not decide to take on Matt Gallagher and go for goal. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-4
Half-time: Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-4. In the first half both sides had notched up three wides.
44 seconds: Straight from the throw-in, Brian Murray gains possession but is blocked and Anthony Tohill wins possession and is fouled and from close to 55m points the free. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-5
37th minute: Joyce McMullan loses possession on a solo run — the ball is hoofed forward and Enda Gormley’ reacts quickly and finds Damien Cassidy. He soloes forward and finishes with a great point to put Derry ahead for the first time. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-6
40th minute: Anthony Tohill wins and loses the ball in midfield. Brian Murray is fouled twice before Tohill again gains possession and finds Damien Barton to point. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-7
42nd minute: Barry McGowan on a forward run is dispossessed by Brian McGilligan. Tohill again picks up and solos forward before finding Damien Cassidy who wins an easy free. Enda Gormley points from 21m. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-8
51st minute: Mark McShane replaces Declan Bonner. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-8
53rd minute: Joe Brolly replaces Steven Mulvenna. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-8
55th minute: Anthony Molloy replaces James McHugh. Donegal 0-5 Derry 0-8
56th minute: A free from Paul Carr is won well by John Duffy. He passes to Manus Boyle who finds Martin McHugh who wins another easy free which John Duffy points from 30m for Donegal’s only score of the half. Donegal 0-6 Derry 0-8 attempt a revival.
64th minute: Martin Gavigan replaces Michael Gallagher. Donegal 0-6 Derry 0-8
64th minute: Karl Diamond replaces Dermot McNicholl. Donegal 0-6 Derry 0-8
71st minute: Manus Boyle commits a foul on Johnny McGurk in injury time. No player has been booked in the game which has a relatively low free count (45) but referee Tommy McDermott sends of Boyle. Donegal 0-6 Derry 0-8
Full time: Derry 0-8 Donegal 0-6. Derry had notched up six wides in the second half to just two for Donegal.
Sources: Martin Breheny, Irish Press, 19th July 1993; Donal Keenan, Irish Independent, 19th July 1993; Michael Daly, Donegal Democrat, 22nd July 1993; Donegal News, 24th July 1993.
the goals will come 