Report: Derry shoot their way to winning start in the Christy Ring Cup

Derry 1-22
Roscommon 1-10

By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Johnny McGarvey was pleased his side got their Christy Ring Cup campaign off to a winning start.

A controlled second half, playing into the wind, helped them to victory over Roscommon on Sunday afternoon at Find Insurance Celtic Park.

The home side led by five points at the break but still played the game on their own terms in the second half.

“We’re happy first game out of the way, as haven’t played in five weeks. It was all about navigating through, getting the win, so I’m happy enough with that,” McGarvey said.

The Oakleafers had to play eight minutes with a man down in the second half after Eamon Cassidy was sent off.

With plenty at stake, it was a game played on the edge but was never in any danger or spilling over.

Roscommon won the toss but elected to play against a stiff wind. Deaglan Foley opened the scoring for Derry with Paddy Fallon levelling from a free

Points from Eamon Cassidy and Conor Coyle (free) put the home side 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.

Derry registered seven first-half wides but pushed 0-7 to 0-2 ahead before a Jack Donnelly goal for the Rossies in the 19^th minute.

Derry upped the ante in the middle third. Turnovers were their important currency and heat on the ball led to their goal. Cormac O’Doherty passed for Joe Mulholland to hammer home.

O’Doherty added scores as Derry went in the break with a 1-12 to 1-7 lead.

Over the hour, their use of the ball saw them switch the play with goalkeeper Kelly’s variation also important.

Cassidy and Foley added scores to put eight points between the teams before Derry went down to 14 men.

Eight minutes later Fallon was sent off for a challenge on substitute Eunan Boylan.

Substitutes Boylan, Sean Martin Quinn and Ruairi Biggs all added scores in a comfortable win.

Next up for Derry is Sunday visit to Aughrim to take on Wicklow with Roscommon welcoming Meath on Saturday.

Donegal were comfortable winners over Wicklow earlier in the day with Kerry laying down a marker against Meath.

“It doesn’t really change anything,” McGarvey said of Sunday’s results.

“We just said to the boys there, the group stages are just about trying to navigate through to get yourself in a position to get to the final.

“We had a couple of rough days down in Wicklow in my second year here, so we know exactly what it’s about.

“I wouldn’t say I’m in any way surprised about the result (Donegal’s win over Wicklow). I’m maybe surprised a wee bit with the margin, I thought it would be a really, really tight one.

“Donegal are going well probably should have won the league final but conceded a couple of goals in injury time.

“Wicklow will know now that that’s an absolute must-win for them. If you get two defeats in the first two, you haven’t played Kerry yet, you’re probably in serious trouble.

“We’ll go down there; we’ll recover in the next couple of days and we’ll be well enough set by the time we get there.”

Derry: S Kelly; JL McGlade, P Turner, C McGilligan; C Coyle (0-1f), M McGrath (0-1), E Cassidy (0-1); T Brady, E Conway (0-1); D McGilligan (0-1), F Bradley (0-1), J Mulholland (1-0); C O’Doherty (0-6, 2f, 1 65), Shéa Cassidy (0-4), D Foley (0-3)
Subs: E Boylan (0-1) for Brady (54), R McGarvey for Conway (64),  SM Quinn (0-1) for Bradley (65), M Lynch for O’Doherty (66), R Biggs (0-1) for Cassidy (68)

Roscommon: E Lawless; M Hussey, J Dillon, J Dowling; K Ryan (0-1), A Donnelly, D Finn; T Morris, E Connaughton; P Fallon (0-5, 4f), J Donnelly (1-1), C Bowes; C Mulry (0-2), C Murray, N Fleming
Subs: R Finn for Murray (HT),  S Canning for J Donnelly (44), C Morris (0-1f) for N Fleming (49), J Martin for Hussey (63), L Coyle for Bowes (63), K Feehily for Connaughton (65)

Referee: C McCloskey (Antrim)