Allianz NHL Div 2A: Derry 1-13 London 0-10
After the highs of last weekend in Mullingar, and the lows of the previous Sunday, many media outlets asked: which Derry would show up at Celtic Park for the visit of London.
They got their answer at a damp Lone Moor road venue where not even the loss of four of last weeks starters could derail the Oak Leaf challenge in Div 2A.
In a keenly fought game, Ruairi Convery's goal from a long range free that carried all the way to the net proved pivotal as Derry defeated a London side who were the authors of their own misfortune at Celtic Park.
In addition to the concession of a soft goal the Exiles were left rue a raft of missed goal chances including spurned penalty and a costly first half red card for wing-back Stephen Frawley.
Despite playing into the breeze the home team started brightly as Oisin McCloskey got them off the mark with a point from play and Ruairi Convery raised the white flag twice in quick succession from play and then a free.
Stephen Lambert got London off the mark but points from Convery from a free and a Brendan Rodgers point saw Derry lead 0-5 to 0-1. As the half came to a close London finally found their range Darren Moore, Martin Duggan and Stephen Lambert closed the gap to a point.
London were offered the chance to take the lead on 32 minutes when Luke Hands was pulled back in the Derry square but visiting keeper John Grealish blazed the penalty over the bar to tie the score at 0-5. And that miss was compounded before the break when half-back Stephen Frawley was red-carded for an off the ball strike on Convery.
In the opening minutes of the second half it looked like the extra man would see Derry streak away into a 0-9 to 0-5 lead thanks to two Ruairi Convery frees and points from half-time substitutes Chris Convery and Jonathan O'Dwyer.
However London began to dominate possession Martin Duggan saw a goalbound effort deflected on to the bar and Lambert pointed from a free and from play to close the gap.
Another Convery free kept Derry clear but Lambert again responded to reduce the margin to 0-10 to 0-8. Then decisive moment came on 58 minutes when Grealish allowed Ruairi Convery's long range free to slip through his grasp and drop to the net.
The Exiles continued to battle to the end but all they could muster were two further Lambert points. A Convery free and points from O'Dwyer and Rodgers meant Derry ran out six point winners, a margin which flattered the home side.
Derry: D Mc Dermott ; M Warnock, S McCullagh, N Farren; R McCloskey, L Hinphey, K Hinphey; O McCloskey (0-1), S McCloskey; B Rodgers (0-2), T McCloskey, A Grant; P Cleary, R Convery (1-7, 4f), A Kelly.
Subs: C Convery (0-1) for Cleary, J O'Dwyer (0-2) for A Kelly (both half-time), C McQuillain for Farren , P McCloskey for S McCloskey (both 55), M O'Hagan for Grant (60).
London: J Grealish (0-1 pen); C McAlinden, C Smith, C Hickey; E Cooney, B Regan, S Frawley; D Moore (0-1), PJ Rowe; S Lambert (0-7, 3f) , E Kelly, M Holohan; H Vaughan, M Duggan (0-1), L Hands.
Subs: R Foy for Holohan, K Coen for Kelly (both half-time), M Coen for Rowe, P Murphy for Vaughan, M Lynch for Hands (all 69).
Referee: O Elliott (Antrim).
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