Derry hurlers bounce back with emphatic result

Allianz National Hurling League Roinn 2A: Derry 3-11 Westmeath 0-8

What a difference a week makes.

After a ‘bad day at the office’ last weekend resulting in heavy defeat against Kerry, Ger Rogan’s men got off the mark in Division 2A of the Allianz National hurling league with a resounding victory in Mullingar.

In a character defining display, Slaughtneil’s Brendan Rogers struck two goals as Westmeath ended the game with 12 players on the pitch.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Derry got off to the best possible start after only three minutes with returnee Paddy McCloskey’s second goal in a week.

Westmeath fought back to level the game in the 15th minute. However, that was as good as it got for the home side as the sending off of Niall O’Brien combined with the first of Rogers’ goals the put Derry firmly in the driving seat.

Rogan’s men took full advantage of the extra man and the elements to register 1-07 without reply for a ten point half time lead: 2-08 to 0-04.

Importantly, Derry held firm in the third quarter of the game as Westmeath attempted to claw their way back into the game, McDermott impressive again between the posts.

The loss of their second player to a red card, Liam Varley, looked to signal the end of the midlanders challenge – a notion confirmed with Rogers’ second major, whipped to the net following a poor defensive clearance.

A second yellow card for Aaron Craig meant he became the third Westmeath player to be ordered off the field. However, the result had long since been decided with two points making the journey home much easier for Derry.

Scorers – Derry: B Rodgers 2-2, A Grant 0-6 (5fs), P McCloskey 1-0, O McCloskey, D O’Neill, T McCloskey (f) 0-1 each. Westmeath: N Conaty 0-3 (2fs), D McNicholas 0-2 (1f), A McGrath, R Greville, N O’Brien (f) 0-1 each.

Derry – D McDermott 6; M Warnock 6, A Rafferty 6, E McGuckin 6; R McCloskey 6, L Hinphey 7, K Hinphey 7; O McCloskey 7, S McCloskey 6; B Rodgers 8, P McCloskey 6, A Grant 8; J O’Dwyer 6, D O’Neill 6, C Convery 6. Subs: P Cleary 6 for O’Neill (51), T McCloskey 6 for O’Dwyer (59), T McCloy n/r for Convery (65), S McCullagh n/r for Grant (68).

Westmeath – P Maloney 6; L Varley 5, T Doyle 6, P Fennell 5; G Greville 7, A Craig 6, P Layde 6; D Fennell 6, P Gilsenan 5; N O’Brien 3, D Gavin 6, C Curley 5; R Greville 6, A McGrath 6, N Conaty 6. Subs: T Gallagher 6 for P Fennell (24, inj), D McNicholas 6 for Conaty (42), P Reilly 6 for Curley (49).

Ref – S Cleere (Kilkenny)

View full article

 

(unsubscribe from this feed)