Derry hurlers begin their season with victory over Tyrone

NHL Division Two

Derry 1-13

Tyrone 0-14

A first half goal from Gerald Bradley proved the key score as Derry began their league with victory over neighbours Tyrone in Omagh on Saturday night.

When Shea Cassidy put the Oakleafers ahead for the second time in the 13th minute they kept their noses in front for a hard-fought win.

Éire Óg’s Aidy Kelly hit 11 points for the Red Hands but Derry’s defence kept out the goals with a late Christy McNaughton point helping secure victory.

The sides were level twice in the opening spell before John Mullan made a point for Shea Cassidy and a 0-3 to 0-2 Derry lead.

Gerald Bradley doubled the lead before two Aidy Kelly free levelled matters.

Derry looked like finding the net on a couple of occasions before Bradley’s 20th minute goal made by Shea Cassidy’s tackle and John Mullan’s pass.

Tyrone, with Kelly accurate, had the margin back to a point before Christy McNaughton floated over a score with the last shot of the half for a 1-6 to 0-7 Derry lead.

With Tyrone going direct in the early stages of the second half, Derry had to dig deep before another Shea Cassidy point from the wing eased the pressure.

A McNaughton point opened a 1-9 to 0-7 lead midway through the second half Kelly and Aidan Woods hit scores to keep the home side in touch.

Ryan McGill hit a score late but Tyrone substitute Mark McCann made an impression when he came on, notching two points.

His run looked to have carved a half goal chance but Derry’s defence stood tall, forcing him to carry possession too long to the relief of Derry who held on for victory,

The Oakleafers face Down next week who were winners over Kildare on Saturday.

Scorers

Derry: Christy McNaughton 0-5 (2f), Shea Cassidy 0-4, Gerald Bradley 1-1, John Mullan, Ryan McGill, Jack Cassidy 0-1 each

Tyrone: Aidy Kelly 0-11 (10f), Mark McCann 0-2 and Aidan Woods 0-1

Derry: Sean Kelly; Padhraig Nelis, Mark Craig, Callum O’Kane; Richie Mullan; Sean Cassidy, Thomas Brady; Meehaul McGrath, Ryan McGill; Jack Cassidy, Gerald Bradley, Corey O’Reilly; John Mullan, Christy McNaughton, Shea Cassidy

Subs: Sean M Quinn for O’Reilly (48), James Friel for O’Kane (52), Eamon Conway for J Cassidy (57), Aimon Duffin for Nelis (63), Eamon Cassidy for John Mullan (68)

Yellow card: T Brady (16)

Tyrone: Conall Molloy; Dean Rafferty, Fionn Devlin, Ronan Molloy; Michael Little; Cian McGuigan, Cormac Munroe, Tiernan Morgan; Seamus Sweeney, Rory Weir; Aidan Woods, Aidy Kelly, Ciaran Magill; Branan Molloy, Kiefer Morgan,

Subs: Ben Gormley for Weir (36), Turlough Mullin for Magill (52), Fionn Corry for T Morgan (67), Mark McCann for K Morgan (68), Francis Hurson for B Molloy (70),

Yellow card: K Morgan (1),

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Antrim)