McGuigan gives Derry edge

THIRTEEN-MAN Derry earned their third straight win in Division 4 as they survived a scare from Waterford at Fraher Field.

The Oak Leaf men were a point up with six minutes left when Jason Rocks and Conor McAtamney received their marching orders for second bookable offences, but a breakaway goal by corner-back Paul McNeill on 68 minutes maintained Derry’s promotion push.

In the first-half Derry owned the ball, but Waterford caught them on the break and a Sean Whelan Barrett goal on 12 minutes and two further points sent them four clear.

Derry’s Shane McGuigan blasted to the roof of the net on the half hour mark to level matters at half time (1-5 each).

Brian Looby and Rocks were booked when a scuffle developed in the Waterford dugout. Whelan Barrett edged the hosts ahead on 58 minutes (1-8 to 1-7), but they wouldn’t score again. SCORERS – Derry: S McGuigan 1-3, P McNeill 1-0, C Bradley 0-3 (1f), E Bradley 0-2 (2f), N Toner (mark), K McKaigue, C McAtamney, E Lynn 0-1 each.

Waterford: S Whelan Barrett 1-1, C Murray, J Curry (2f) 0-2 each, F Ó Cuirrín, J Mullaney, J Gleeson 0-1 each. DERRY – T Mallon 6; P McNeill 7, B Rodgers 6, N Keenan 6; K McKaigue 7, M McEvoy 6, E McGill 6; C McKaigue 6, C McFaul 6; P Cassidy 5, C Bradley

7, J Rocks 5; S McGuigan 8, E Bradley 6, N Toner 6.

Subs: C McAtamney 6 for McEvoy (56), E Lynn 6 for E Bradley (59), P Coney for C Bradley (74), C Mulholland for Keenan (74).

WATERFORD – A Beresford 6; A Trihy 6, R O Ceallaigh 6, J McGrath 5; S O’Donovan 6, S Ryan 6, B Looby 6; S Aherne 5, T Prendergast 5; J Mullaney 6, C Murray 7, M Curry 6; F Ó Cuirrín 6, J Curry 6, S Whelan Barrett 7. Subs: K Power 5 for Prendergast (H-T), J Gleeson 5 for Ó Cuirrín (H-T), D Fitzgerald for Trihy (61), D Hallahan for Gleeson (67).

REF – S Mulhare (Laois).