Updated: February 6th, 2022
Allianz Hurling League 2B: Derry 2-14 Sligo 1-14
Derry Senior Hurlers start 2022 with 2 points
Just as our Senior Footballers started their 2022 league campaign in Divison 2 with a Saturday home game and 2 points, so too did our Senior Hurlers when they hosted Sligo at Celtic Park in Division 2B on Saturday 5th February.
However, where the footballers had some breathing space coming into the closing stages, Dominic McKinley and Cormac Donnelly’s men were made to work hard until the very end in trying conditions, digging deep to secure victory.
Sligo started the brighter, hitting 3 points before Derry leveled through a goal from Gerald Bradley.
The sides traded points, before Tiarnan McHugh found the net for Derry’s second goal.
However 4 consecutive points from Gerard Kelly-Lynch gave Sligo a point lead at the break, 2-03 to 0-10.
Five points from Cormac O’Doherty contributed to Derry’s strong start to the second 35, going into a 6 point lead.
Sligo again closed the gap to 3, only for Derry though Cormac O’Doherty, Tiarnan McCloskey and Decky Foley to open the gap back to 6 with time running out.
There was still time for a Sligo penalty to hit the back of the Derry net, but that was the last action of the game, confirming an opening round victory for our Senior Hurlers.
Teams
DERRY: Oisin O’Doherty, Ciaran Hendry, Mark Craig, Darragh McCloskey, Meehaul McGrath(0-1) , Richie Mullan, Eamon McGill, Cormac O’Doherty (0-9), Darragh McGilligan, Sean Kelly, John Mullan, Jerome McGuigan, Deaghlan Foley, Gerald Bradley (1-1), Tiarnan McHugh (1-1).
SUBS: Padraig Nelis for Tiarnan McHugh 59’, Tiarnan McCloskey (0-1) for Gerald Bradley 70’).
SLIGO: Matt Davey, Niall Kilcullen, Mark Hanniffy, Kevin O’Kennedy, Gavin Connolly, Rory McHugh, Fionn Connolly, Finnian Cawley, Patrick Foley, Michael Munnelly, Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch (1-12), Conor Hannify, Eoin Comerford, Andy Kilcullen (0-2), Kevin Gilmartin.
SUBS: Tony O’Kelly-Lynch for Eoin Comerford 46’, Tomas Cawley for Joe McHugh 56’, Liam O’Kelly Lynch for Kevin Kilmartin 68’),
REFEREE: James Connors (Donegal)