Updated: April 20th, 2025
Christy Ring: Derry make extra man count to claim win over London in Ruislip
Game recap
From Conor Martin (Irish Independent)
London 1-18, Derry 2-19
Derry used their extra-man advantage count as they came from behind to beat London 2-19 to 1-18 in their Christy Ring Cup clash at McGovern Park in Ruislip.
The hosts started sharply and troubled the scoreboard from the word go after David Devine made no mistake with his free in the first minute.
That opening score was followed up by two delightful scores from Rory Lodge and Paul Kennedy that pushed the London lead out to three before a second Devine free make it four to no score after five minutes.
London’s defence had hassled the Derry attack early on with some well-worked turnovers before two frees from Christy McNaughton got the Oakleafers going.
Devine and McNaughton continued to deliver with the deadball before Enda Egan and Conor O’Carroll gave the Exiles a healthy lead of five. At the other end, Derry weren’t going away; efforts from Deaghlan Foley and McNaughton kept the visitors in touch in between another Devine score.
A goal from London captain Seán Glynn put clear daylight between the two as they lead 1-10 to 0-6. Cormac O’Doherty and Foley would add a handful of more scores before the break, while Kennedy’s second point of the afternoon helped ensure London had a lead of six by the half-time whistle.
After Devine’s free opened second-half scoring, Derry would dominate scoring. McNaughton and O’Doherty and Eamon Conway helped Derry keep pace with London, who were keeping their noses in front thanks to points from O’Carroll and Glynn.
The game then turned in favour of the visitors when O’Doherty burst the London net, which was followed by a moment of stupidity when O’Carroll was red-carded in the 55th minute.
Derry had the momentum and with ten minutes to go, they were level thanks to Ruairí Ó Mianáin’s leveller, followed up by Conway’s point, which gave Derry the lead for the first time.
London were rattled and despite Devine and Jack Morrissey searching for a late response, a second O’Doherty goal and a fourth Conway point, Derry claimed a second win of their 2025 Christy Ring Cup campaign.
Teams and scorers
Derry: London: D Devine 0-10 (8f, 2 65); S Glynn 1-1; P Kennedy, C O’Carroll 0-2 each; E Egan (1f), R Lodge, J Morrissey 0-1 (1f) each.
Derry scorers: C O’Doherty 2-3; C McNaughton 0-6 (5f, 1 65); D Foley 0-5; E Conway 0-4; R Ó Mianáin 0-1.
London scorers: D Devine 0-10 (8f, 2 65); S Glynn 1-1; P Kennedy, C O’Carroll 0-2 each; E Egan (1f), R Lodge, J Morrissey 0-1 (1f) each.
Derry: Sean Kelly; Paddy Kelly, Mark Craig, Patrick Turner; Ruairi Ó Mianáin, Richie Mullan, Sean Cassidy; Meehaul McGrath, Eamon Conway; Thomas Brady, John Mullan, Cormac O’Doherty; Deaghlan Foley, Christy McNaughton, Shea Cassidy. Subs: Ryan McGill for John Mullan (50), Callum O’Kane for Brady (53), Sean Martin Quinn for Christy McNaughton (68), Eamon Cassidy for Shea Cassidy (73).
London: M Kilgannon 6; N Fitzgerald 6, C Byrne 6, S Whelan 6; T Millerick 6, E Egan 6, B Morrissey 6; R Lodge 6, P Kennedy 6; D Dawson 6, C McCormack 6, D Devine 8; J Morrissey 6, C O’Carroll 4, S Glynn 8. Subs: T Hanifin for Egan (blood sub 20-24), O Shiel 6 for McCormack (52), T Hanifin 6 for Lodge (61), D Reale 6 for Devine (68). E McGrath 6 for Kennedy (71).
Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).