Brilliant Derry hurlers gain important victory over Meath

Derry 1-27  |  Meath 1-23

The tone of Johnny McGarvey’s voice said it all. Two league points. Relief and contentment. After three defeats, Derry turned the corner to put in the performance of the season.

The Derry boss hailed Saturday’s win as the best the Oaks have hurled in his tenure. It gives them a timely boost into their winner takes all clash with Donegal in Letterkenny.

If McGarvey’s post-game interview spoke volumes of what the result meant, the level of his team’s warmup visibly spelt out what Saturday was all about.

Cormac O’Doherty was togged for the first time. He was delivering clear and concise messages as Derry found their touch. There was a steely look in the eye as they stepped onto the grass.

It was the strongest hand Derry have sat looking into this season. Sean Kelly returned between the posts. Ruairí Ó Mianáin had a second outing. Cahal Murray was on the pitch for the first time.

There was just a cut about Derry. They were ruthless and direct. And that was the just the warmup. It carried into the first two minutes.

Two direct Murray runs. Two frees won. Two Christy McNaughton points. After three defeats and a plenty of questions, this was the perfect answer.

Anytime the ball broke in the middle third, John Mullan seemed to be on the ball. When the ball but the grass from a 52nd minute puck-out, Meath were within three points for the first time since Mikey Cole’s first-half goal.

In a game of Derry control, this was arguably the most vital ball. Another Meath score and who knows. But it was Gerald Bradley who snapped up possession and John Mullan had the ball over the bar. Another Derry gain.

There was an unfortunate finish. With time up, a ball broke in the Meath square. Dáire Shine dived to close down Shea Cassidy. The Derry stick carried on. Referee Parke deemed is a strike. Cassidy was sent off with Shine stretchered off.

Derry were forced to start without Mark Craig who suffered from ‘flu. In came James Friel to the half-back line with Sean Cassidy reverting to full back.

Derry’s Gerald Bradley fend’s off a tackle from Meath’s Daire Shine. (Photos: George Sweeney/nwpresspics)

The Oakleafers played with Christy McNaughton pulled closer to the half-forward zone. It was another body to battle in the middle third. It left Shea Cassidy and Cahal Murray with freedom to express themselves inside. And they did.

After Murray won the first free after just 23 seconds, Cassidy had a half goal chance in behind. It was a let off but a warning shot.

It took Meath four minutes to score, a long effort from Shine before McNaughton hammered over a long-range free for a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

When Derry’s goal arrived, it was a brilliant move. Patrick Turned belted out to take possession in defence, off a long Meath puck-out. The move developed with Cassidy in on goal. He was fouled by Domhnall Rogers but still managed to squeeze the ball to the net.

Referee Parke issued Rogers a black card before McNaughton lashed the penalty to the net for a five-point lead.

Darragh Kelly and Jack Regan replied for Meath before Gerald Bradley hit back with a neat finish after precise Derry interplay.

No sooner had the umpire put the white flag back in the ground, the Derry net was bulging at the other end.

A long ball found Mikey Cole in behind. He raced away before hammering past a helpless Seán Kelly. 1-6 to 1-5. Game on.

Meath’s Lorcan Byrne gets off a pass under pressure from Derry pair John Mullan and Thomas Brady.

John Mullan’s reply was instant. A Derry score. Brother Richie added one. Murray another. Storm averted.

It was the last time a Meath forward was left isolated for the remainder of the half as Derry built up a 1-16 to 1-9 interval lead. It would’ve been more only for a brilliant O’Riordan save to deny Gerald Bradley.

Meath made two changes at the break and won two frees – both for fouls on Lorcan Byrne – and Jack Regan settled them into the second half.

A brilliant Thomas Brady catch eased Derry into the next play but after McGrath joined the attack, Bradley was closed down. A failed attack but another indication of Derry’s desire.

When Turner defended brilliantly on Seán Doyle, Derry countered with a direct ball from Ó Mianáin and John Mullan had the ball over the bar.

READ NEXT: Derry dominant at Celtic Park

Meath have a five-minute spell that gave them a chance to staging a comeback. Two Regan frees and two points from Doyle left the score at 1-20 to 1-17 with 18 minutes remaining.

The next ball was vital and it was Gerald Bradley’s desire in the ruck that made a score for John Mullan. Derry weren’t going to be denied.

Eamon Conway and Meehaul McGrath capped off their workrate with points as Derry pushed seven points ahead before another Meath spell.

John Mullan threw himself to block Regan but he snatched the ball back before firing over. Five minutes to go, Meath were back to three points again. They were also unlucky when a Mikey Cole shot came back off the crossbar.

For all Derry’s dominance, Meath were still hanging on in the battle until McNaughton and Ó Mianáin arrowed over scores to cement victory.

A turning point in Derry’s season? It could be but unless they win in Letterkenny, they could find themselves relegated and the Meath performance would be irrelevant. But it’s all in their own hands.

Johnny McGarvey, Derry hurling manager, was delighted with his team's efforts.

Scorers:- 

Derry: Christy McNaughton 1-7 (1-0 pen, 7f), Richie Mullan (2f, 1 65), John Mullan 0-4 each, Gerald Bradley 0-3, Cahal Murray, Shea Cassidy Ruairí Ó Mianáin, Eamon Conway 0-2 each and Meehaul McGrath 0-1. Meath: Jack Regan 0-15 (11f, 1 65), Seán Doyle 0-3, Mikey Cole 1-0, Nicky Potterton 0-2, Darragh Kelly, Dáire Shine and Simon Ennis 0-1 each.

Teams:-

Derry: Sean Kelly; Paddy Kelly, Sean Cassidy, Patrick Turner; Ruairí Ó Mianáin, James Friel, Richie Mullan; Meehaul McGrath, Eamon Conway; John Mullan, Gerald Bradley, Thomas Brady; Christy McNaughton; Cahal Murray, Shea Cassidy. Subs: Cormac O’Doherty for Brady (54), Callum O’Kane for Bradley (66), Mark Craig for P Kelly (82). Yellow cards: Sean Cassidy (38), J Friel (60). Red card: Shea Cassidy (70)

Meath: Colm O’Riordan; Jarlath Ennis, Dáire Shine, Domhnall Rogers; James Kelly, Darragh Kelly, Simon Ennis; Kris Gorman, Darren O’Higgins; Nicky Potterton, Seán Quigley, Lorcan Byrne; Mikey Cole, Jack Regan, Evan Fitzgerald. Subs: James Toher for O’Higgins (HT), Seán Doyle for Fitzgerald (HT), Seán Corbett for Quigley (57), Mickey Burke for J Ennis (63), Ben Holden for Kelly (66), Martin Healy for Shine (Blood sub 77). Black card: D Rogers (4). Yellow card: D Kelly (27).

Referee: Kevin Parke (Antrim)

GAME AT A GLANCE:

MAN OF THE MATCH - An impossible task. Collectively, Derry were on the money. Jack Regan was Meath’s leading light but Derry’s sunshine was beaming from every corner. Patrick Turner attacked the ball with purpose. Meehaul McGrath ran every blade of grass on Celtic Park. John Mullan and Gerald Bradley gave Derry a brilliant link to inside. Christy McNaughton bagged 1-7. Overall, Cahal Murray edges it. His direct running set the tone. He made scores and landed two himself. What a game for his first action of the season to edge out John Mullan.

Derry’s Eamon Convey gets a grip on Meath's Kris Gorman.

TURNING POINT - Derry victory was built on the electricity they brought to the first half. However, for all their hurling, Meath’s goal shot the visitors back into the game. One point in it. How would Derry respond? Cahal Murray, John and Richie Mullan landed three points in as many minutes. It was a four-point lead that justified Derry’s level of performance. They never really looked back.

SCORE OF THE GAME - There was plenty of competition. Jack Regan notched a lovely score from play in the second half. A moment of magic. Gerald Bradley’s 20th minute point summed up everything that was positive about the winners. An early ball was won by Cahal Murray. Bradley was involved. John Mullan was composed when Meath tried to close the door. He got the ball out to Bradley who dissected the posts for a 1-6 to 0-5 lead.