Wicklow Conquer Derry

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Christy Ring Round 2A

Wicklow 1-18

Derry 2-11

Arklow – 12/5/2012

Wicklow produced a strong second half display to beat visitors Derry in the second round of the Christy Ring Championship in Arklow today writes Alan O’Brien

The mark of winners is having the ability to not be at your best and yet still get the job done and that’s just what Wicklow did today against Derry. Despite flying into a 0-3 to no score lead courtesy of points from Tommy Doyle (2) and Enan Glynn the Garden County never looked on top and were punished in the  9^th minute when ground strike from 25 yards deflected off wing back Henderson and flashed past Joe Murphy to give Derry their first goal.

The teams traded scores with Wicklow dual star Chester Kelly launching a monster effort from centre back to tie the game up again after 12 minutes. Hesitant Wicklow defending lead to a second goal for Derry on the quarter hour mark and the Oak leaf men rattled over the next three points to lead by 0-6.

With Wicklow misfiring all over the park it was a couple of old heads who steadied the ship. Geoffrey Bermingham lashed over a score before Bosco clicked into gear and fired over. Andy O’Brien was next to find his range with a wonderful solo effort before Derry roared back with a score either side of a Bosco free. With minutes left before the team had to face manager Casey O’Brien’s half time assessment of the performance Wicklow continued to up their intensity. Bosco fired over again before Andy O’Brien batted a wonderful one handed effort over the bar to leave the home side trailing visitors Derry by just 0-2.

Wayne O’Gorman and Christy Moorehouse were sent on at the start of the second half with Wicklow looking to improve on an error ridden first half. However it was Derry who raised the first white flag with Bosco replying with a free. Christy Moorehouse fired over but Wicklow could just not get a handle on Derry who scored the next two points to keep their noses in front and further frustrate their hosts.

All the 50/50 calls were going against Wicklow who were getting frustrated with the referee and his assistants. Enan Glynn was being constantly fouled off the ball which sparked Casey O’Brien into life as he questioned why the umpires were not doing their job and letting the referee know.

With their backs up Wicklow ran harder, tackled harder and hurled harder and faster. The situation called for hunger and heart and that’s what Wicklow produced. Eamonn Kearns fielded brilliantly and scored a point which pushed Wicklow into the lead for the first time since Derry’s first goal. The score was acknowledged with a pumping of the fists and a call to action for the rest of the team.

When it looked like Wicklow would see the match out a poor call by the umpire to award a point after the Derry free appeared to tail off wide levelled the match again. With the match in the melting pot Derry were awarded a penalty with just 8 minutes left. After a short delay Joe Murphy saved brilliantly out for a ’65. Derry scored that to lead again but Bosco levelled after brilliant closing down by the Wicklow forwards resulted in a free against Derry for over carrying.

With 5 minutes to go Enan chased what appeared a lost cause to retrieve the ball, his flick pass was picked up by Andy O’Brien who was fouled and Bosco pushed Wicklow back into the lead from the free.

Another poor refereeing decision against Eamonn Kearns for alleged over carrying gave Derry the chance to level again but the ball fell short and was cleared by Wicklow to Andy O’Brien who fired against the post. The rebound fell to John Connors, not long on as a sub who lashed the ball home first time to give Wicklow the win and spark celebrations on the line and in the stands.

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