NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2
Derry 1-13
Cork 0-7
It wasn’t the outcome Cork wanted, it wasn’t the efficiency Cork wanted, as Derry put them to the sword by 9 factors in Owenbeg on Sunday afternoon to go away them very a lot in a relegation battle.
The Rebels had been billed as undefeated Derry’s hardest take a look at but, however it proved a comparatively snug afternoon for the house facet with Shane McGuigan hitting 0-8 and Chrissy McKaigue holding Cork dangerman scoreless on a day when Stephen Sherlock accounted for 5 of Cork’s seven scores.
Gallagher’s males have been already in cost, however the sport was received in 30 second half seconds when Odhran Lynch produced an excellent cease from joint Cork captain Brian Hurler, diving low to his proper to maintain out the Castlehaven’s males’s fierce shot six minutes into the second interval.
A purpose then would have introduced Cork to inside some extent of Derry. As an alternative, lower than 30 seconds later, the ball was at the back of the Rebels’ web as lightning fast Derry break noticed Chrissy McKaigue and McWilliams swap passes earlier than the latter’s shot was fantastically saved by Chris Kelly within the Cork purpose.
Sadly for the Rebels’ No. 1 Benny Heron was up in assist and fired the rebound straight again into the unguarded web for a 1-7 to 0-3 lead Cork by no means seemed like clawing again.
It was a six level swing and confidence booster that underneath pinned Derry’s management, giving Gallagher’s males the cushion they wanted to lastly wrestle management from a Cork staff that have been unable make a lot headway in opposition to an intense Oak Leaf backline.
Derry have been compelled right into a pre-match change when playmaker Ciaran McFaul failed a late health take a look at on a hamstring harm, which means Oisín McWIlliams got here into the beginning line-up of an in any other case settled Oak Leaf facet.
Keith Ricken in the meantime was in a position to name on his St Finbarr’s contingent for the primary time this season with Billy Hennessey, Ian Maguire and Stephen Sherlock all restored to the Rebels’ beginning 15.
And it was Sherlock who grabbed the opening rating of the times through a primary minute free after Conor Glass’ cross inside had caught Brendan Rogers out, permitting Brian Burley to nip in and draw the foul.
With numerous different league fixtures falling foul of Storm Eunice’s wrath, the Owenbeg pitch was in first rate situation, even when the wind and rain made dealing with and passing treacherous at instances.
That was mirrored in a good opening half through which neither facet was eager to waste possession and extra reluctant nonetheless to take an opportunity with capturing.
The guests used Sherlock and Hurley inside with runners flooding ahead in assist, however Ricken’s facet discovered the Oak Leaf defensive system a tricky nut to crack within the opening 37 minutes with solely Daniel Dineen’s beautiful rating and one other Sherlock free with the final kick of the half to indicate for his or her first half efforts.
The Rebels did waste a gilt-edged purpose likelihood on the half hour mark when Seán Meehan discovered himself in on purpose however elected to cross to Colm O’Callaghan inside.
O’Callaghan wasn’t anticipating the disguised cross and in his shock inexplicably touched the ball on the bottom solely yards from the Derry posts and the possibility was gone.
Derry managed marginally higher within the situations with Shane McGuigan as soon as once more their go-to man, the Slaughtneil participant hitting 4 of Derry first half tally of 5.
Rory Gallagher’s males bossed possession for lengthy durations with Paul Cassidy, Pádraig McGrogan and McWilliams working effectively in a congested center third.
McGuigan opened Derry’s account with a sixth minute free and added a second with a beautiful rating on 14 minutes, however Derry have been responsible of over enjoying at instances as they sought to select a path in direction of engineering a purpose.
McGuigan’s third rating, coming after a shortly taken dwelling free was adopted by that Dineen level for 0-3 to 0-2 on 27 minutes. Lachlan Murray and one other McGuigan free elevated the house tally however Sherlock had the final say of the half because the facet rotated with the house facet main 0-5 to 0-3.
Derry second half intent was evident inside 30 seconds of the restart as Conor Glass received possession and slipped McWilliams via just for the Swatragh man to be fouled, permitting McGuigan to faucet over the resultant free for a 3 level lead.
That lead was 4 was Emmett Bradley capped a nice solo run and dummy with the end it deserved 4 minutes later for 0-7 to 0-3.
Then got here the 30 seconds which outlined the match. It confirmed Derry’s superiority killed off Cork’s problem. The query now was solely concerning the margin of victory as Loughlin, McGuigan and McWilliams all added scores whereas Matthew Downey noticed a late purpose chalked off for a sq. ball.
The Cork heads by no means dropped which is able to give Ricken some hope for a tricky take a look at at dwelling to Galway subsequent week however they will ned extra from a entrance line that was dominated by an excellent Derry defence.
For the Oak Leafers, this victory and extra particularly the style of the win underlines why Gallagher’s males can now set their sights on difficult for a spot within the high flight. A stark distinction to the Rebels who now have a battle of a distinct hue on their fingers.
Scorers
Derry: Shane McGuigan (0-8, 5f), Benny Heron (1-0), Lachlan Murray (0-1), Emmett Bradley (0-1), Niall Loughlin (0-1), Oisin McWilliams (0-1), Padraig McGrogan (0-1)
Cork: Stephen Sherlock (0-5, 4f), Daniel Dineen (0-1), Kevin O’Donovan (0-1)
DERRY: Odhran Lynch, Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Conor McCluskey, Ethan Doherty, Ethan Doherty, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Doherty, Conor Glass, Emmet Bradley, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Oisin McWilliams, Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray Subs: Niall Toner for L Murray, 41mins; Matthew Downey for N Loughlin, 56mins; Ben McCarron for B Heron, 59mins; Shea Donwey for E Bradley, 63mins
CORK: Chris Kelly, Kevin O’Donovan, Sean Meehan, Tadhg Corkery, Rory Maguire, Billy Hennessy, Mattie Taylor, Ian Maguire, Shane Merritt, Colm O Callaghan, Fionn Herlihy, Daniel Dineen, Stephen Sherlock, David Buckley, Brian Hurley Subs: John O’Rourke for D Buckley, 41mins; Kevin Flahive for B Hennessey, 49mins; Daniel O’Connell for S Merritt, 52mins; Cian Kiely for R Maguire, 59mins; Blake Murphy for F Herlihy, 59mins
REFEREE: James Molloy (Galway)