Derry defence stifle attack

National Football League/Derry 0-13 Wexford 1-5: Derry turned in another impressive display as they handed last year's finalists a five-point defeat at Wexford Park yesterday.

The Derry defence was magnificent, and restricted the Wexford attack to just three points from play in a display of real quality, with Seán Martin Lockhart the shining light as he held Matty Forde to just a single point from play.

Star of the game was Patsy Bradley, who gave his side the edge in midfield, where along with his partner, Joe Diver, they dictated the pattern of the game, particularly into the breeze in the second half. Bradley's fielding was immaculate and his work rate colossal.

Derry suffered a huge blow just 10 minutes into the game when full forward Paddy Bradley was forced off with concussion, but Enda Muldoon and Eoin Bradley took on the scoring responsibility to send Wexford reeling to their second defeat, with the result they now face a real relegation battle.

It was a game marred by a melee close to the finish in which some 25 players were involved, resulting in Wexford's David Fogarty receiving a second yellow. And 11 minutes from the end Francis McEldowney was also dismissed for a second yellow card offence.

In all referee Michael Meade showed 12 yellow cards, and Wexford finished with 13 players, with Forde dismissed on a second yellow card.

Derry opened impressively and led 0-4 to 0-2 after 16 minutes, but when Forde scored a goal from a penalty four minutes later they had much to do to restore their supremacy.

Two points apiece from Muldoon and Bradley gave them a 0-8 to 1-2 lead at the interval.

DERRY: B Gillis; F McEldowney, K McCloy, SM Lockhart; P Carton, J McBride, L Hinphey (0-2); J Diver, Patsy Bradley; J O'Kane, E Muldoon (0-5, 4 frees), F Doherty; M Donaghy, Paddy Bradley (0-2, one free), E Bradley (0-4, one free). Subs: C Mullan for Paddy Bradley, F Crossan for Mullan, G Diamond for Donaghy.

WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, D Breen; K Kennedy, L O'Brien, D Murphy; N Lambert, P Colfer; C Deely (0-1), D Fogarty, R Barry; J Hegarty, J Hudson (0-1), M Forde (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees). Subs: PJ Banville for Hegarty, E Bradley for Lambert, D Foran for Banville; N Murphy for Breen, R Stafford for Colfer.

Referee: M Meade (Limerick).