Derry hurlers just one win away from Christy Ring Cup final

Christy Ring Cup

Derry vs. Mayo

Owenbeg

Today, 1:30pm

For Johnny McGarvey and Derry, it’s all about simple maths today, as a win will put Derry into the Christy Ring final.

It has been a rollercoaster of a ride so far for McGarvey, who has watched his team fight back from a luckless league campaign to make it to the cusp of the Christy Ring final. A first victory over Sligo was followed by a narrow defeat to Meath, but his squad bounced back from disappointment spectacularly on Sunday.

Last weekend’s thrilling win over London, in London, was the latest twist in an already remarkable season as the Oakleafers came from behind late on to win 1-30, 4-19 at the end of a very high-scoring contest.

It left McGarvey breathless and thrilled and in awe of his players’ never say die attitude.

“We’ve come out the wrong side of them a few times this season,” he reflected afterwards. “That last five or six minutes plus injury time; where we didn’t take our scores against Meath, but the boys were unreal. From a point or two down there at the end of normal time to winning that, what a battle it was. And what a game, fair play to London, but our boys were outstanding and they got what they deserved.”

Conceding four goals is a good way to lose a game, and McGarvey acknowledged that in his post-game interview, but what stood out more for the Derry manager was the spirit of his players to keep going when they could easily have let their heads drop.

“We’d definitely be disappointed, definitely at two of them,” he continued. “The second and third just came from their puck-outs, just long balls down the field. Of course, we’d be disappointed and there’s plenty there to work on, but we scored something like 1-29 and that’s massive. If we don’t concede the goals we’re flying there.

“We hurled really, really well. Our attitude since the Meath match, our attitude in training; we had a few boys down sick and a couple of boys carrying injuries. Everything that we’ve done has been on the money. We travelled over the day before the game and the boys have been exemplary. They have been unreal.”

The win leaves Derry in third place at present, but with the top two of Meath and Sligo facing off this weekend, a win today would see Derry finish in the top two, sealing a place in the final.

“That was the way,” he agreed. “We talked after the Meath match that it was in our hands. If we could win our two matches, then we’d go to the final. We’ve won one of them and we’ll recover really, really well and the full focus now will be on Mayo. That’s brilliant; what a win it was in London and what a performance it was, but we have to beat Mayo at Owenbeg and that’s just the way it is.”