O’Doherty leads from the front

Derry came away with the two points in Aughrim with captain Cormac O’Doherty top scoring with 0-9 to gain victory in Round 1 of the Christy Ring Cup.

O’Doherty and Wicklow’s Luke Evans traded early dead balls leaving the scores level after 11 minutes in what was a cagey opening period.

It was then, however, that the Oak Leaf county took complete control with O’Doherty finishing the half with 0-6 which ensured his side went in six points ahead at the interval.

The home side mounted a comeback of sorts in the second half with Bray brothers Luke and Davy Maloney dragging their side back into the tie and it looked like being a tight finish.

As the game drew to its conclusion, however, it was Derry that ensured victory with scores from O’Doherty and substitute Pádraig Neilis, which ended any hopes of a comeback for the home side. SCORERS – Derry: C O’Doherty 0-9 (0-8fs) P Clearly 0-2, C O’Reilly, C O’Kane, C Murray, P Neilis, S Cassidy, J Mullan 0-1 each. Wicklow: L Evans 0-4 (0-3fs), L Maloney, S Germaine (0-2fs) 0-2 each, R McMahon, C McNally D Maloney, R Waters 0-1 each. DERRY: O O’Doherty, P Kelly, M Craig, N Darren, S Cassidy , R Mullan, M McGrath, C O’Doherty, C O’Kane, C O’Reilly, C Murray, D McGilligan, J Mullan, D Mooney, P Clearly. Subs: T Brady for McGrath, S Kelly for C Murray, C McNaughton for C O’Kane, P Neilis for J Mullan. WICKLOW: C McNally, Ben Kearney, Bryan Kearney, T Collins, D Byrne, P Doran, C Logan, W Kavanagh, B Ryan, R McMahon, D Maloney, S Browne, S Germaine, G Hughes, L Evans. Subs: L Maloney for W Kavanagh, J McGing for R McMahon, D Redmond for S Browne, R Waters for B Ryan. REF: C Daly