Coleraine Chronicle - Sports - Two wins in a row for Derry

Sports

Two wins in a row for Derry

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Two wins in a row for Derry thumbnail Gerard O’Kane showed plenty of pace against UUJ and also got on the scoresheet playing at wing-half forward.

DERRY made it two wins from two home outings in Section C of the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup as they saw off a lively UUJ side 1-16 to 0-14 at Celtic Park last Saturday evening. The game also heralded the return of Paddy Bradley to county colours after he missed virtually all of last season due to a cruciate ligament injury. The Glenullin man eased himself into the game, bagging a goal and point, after coming in as a second half substitute for Coleraine's Ciaran McGoldrick.
The Oak Leaf men had to work hard for their win as UUJ were very lively throughout, playing some fast moving football and firing over a number of fine long range points.
With the impressive full forward Kieran Hughes out around midfield along with John Carron and Neil McAdam, UUJ enjoyed their fair share of possession.
Derry's most influential line was their half forward unit of Mark Lynch, Gerard O'Kane and Neil Forrester, their direct running at the UUJ defence caused constant problems throughout.
Steelstown lad Forrester, making his debut at senior level, was all-action throughout, darting forward at pace, his break ball winning was a feature throughout.
Meanwhile, the experienced O'Kane and Lynch led the line very well and were instrumental in Derry's best moves throughout the game.
After UUJ had taken an early lead, four points in a row had Derry ahead fifteen minutes into the game, two points from Enda Lynn and singles from Gerard O'Kane and Cailean O'Boyle gave Derry and adntage they would hold throughout.
The sides traded points with Eoin Waide drilling over a superb point with the outside of his foot on the right wing while O'Boyle had a goal chance but Shane McCormack in the UUJ goals tipped his pile-driver over the bar.
O'Boyle increased Derry's lead but the industrious Diarmuid McNulty pegged one back in the 24th minute.
Just a couple of minutes later UUJ were dealt an injury blow when corner forward C.J. McGourty had to be carried off on a stretcher following what seemed to be a serious ankle injury.