Derry full value for victory

Derry 0-19 Wexford 0-10:Playing with greater and intensity throughout Derry were full value for their comfortable nine-point victory over a disappointing Wexford outfit in this Division 2 game played at Wexford Park yesterday afternoon.

For Derry it was their second win of the campaign but it could have been more decisive had they been more clinical with their finishing. Their approach play throughout was excellent but their finishing on numerous occasions was wayward from scoreable positions for they kicked a total of 15 wides compared to the home side’s seven, but still Brian McIvor was happy to have collected a second brace of points to bring them right back into the promotion race.

Outside of their finishing McIvor took many positives out of the game. “We seemed to be able create so much space but it was that final touch that saw so many chances kicked wide. But still I’m happy . . . In fairness to the lads they showed a lot of character to come down to Wexford and win by nine points. We won’t be carried away but it’s something positive to build on for our next game.”

Derry popped over three points inside the opening nine minutes despite playing into the breeze. After corner-back Gerard O’Kane had opened the scoring inside two minutes followed by two from Emmet McGuckin, it took the home side until the 17th minute to open their account through a Ben Brosnan pointed free.

Exchanged points

Mark Lynch and Shane Roche (free) exchanged points, but it was a surge from Wexford that produced points from PJ Banville, a Roche punched effort and Brosnan that had the sides level, 0-6 each after 33 minutes, but that was as close as Wexford were to get as Derry finished the stronger, adding points through Seán L McGoldrick and Enda Lynn to lead 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval, which would have been greater but for eight first-half wides.

Wexford, who never led in this game, opened the second half with a Brosnan free, but Derry replied immediately as Enda Lynn raced through to point. They went on to kick four unanswered points through Charlie Kielt, James Kielt, Lynn and PJ McCluskey, to lead 0-13 to 0-7 after 52 minutes.

Wexford replied with a point from sub Rory Quinlivan, but with 11 minutes remaining, Derry had a real let off. Goalkeeper Thomas Mallon parried a low Joey Wadding shot leaving the inrushing Shane Roche to crash the loose ball off the crossbar. Derry went on to outscore their opponents 0-6 to 0-2 in the closing 10 minutes, as they ran out easy winners.

DERRY:T Mallon; G O'Kane (0-1), D McBride, C McKaigue; C Kielt (0-1), M Lynch (0-1), SL McGoldrick (0-1); P Bradley (0-1), PJ McCloskey (0-1); B McGoldrick, E Lynn (0-4), J Kielt (0-2, 0-1 free); B Heron, E McGuckin (0-5, 0-2 frees), L Kennedy. Subs: R Wilkinson (0-2) for Kennedy (45 mins); D Heavron for J Kielt (50 mins); C McFall for Heron (61 mins); R Bell for McCloskey (67 mins); C McWilliams for Lynch (70 mins). WEXFORD:T Hughes; J Wadding, G Molloy, R Tierney; B Malone, L Chin, A Doyle; D Waters, C Doyle; A Flynn (0-2), B Brosnan (0-3, 0-2 frees), P Byrne; S Roche (0-3, 0-2 frees), R Barry, PJ Banville (0-1). Subs: R Quinlivan (0-1) for C Doyle (32 mins); D Murphy for Chin (44 mins); J Holmes for A Doyle (50 mins); K OGrady for Brosnan (51 mins); M Furlong for Tierney (56 mins). Referee: M Collins (Cork).