Derry hurlers well beaten by Down at Owenbeg

NHL Division Two

Down 2-26

Derry 0-13

Derry hurlers were well beaten by Down on home soil on Saturday with Tom McGrattan landing 15 points for the winners.

The sides were level at 0-4 each before the visitors hit seven points in as many minutes to leave Derry chasing a game they were never going to catch.

Christy McNaughton and Eamon Cassidy tagged on Derry points at the end of the first half to level seven between the teams, 0-14 to 0-7, at half-time.

Derry had lost Gerald Bradley to injury during the half and had a chance to regroup.

They needed the start Down got to the second half. Half-time substitute Ronan Beatty had the ball over the bar with his first touch.

Then came the first hammer blow with Tim Prenter hitting the net. Eoghan Sands added a second goal as Down came with a 2-2 blitz in seven minutes.

With the score now 2-16 to 0-7, it was a mountain to climb against a Down side who were slick, efficient and were always able to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Derry will have to regroup for the trip to Tralee next weekend to face Kerry with Down’s next game against Donegal.

Down scorers: Tom McGrattan 0-15 (8f, 1 '65'), Tim Prenter 1-1, Eoghan Sands 1-0, Pearse Óg McCrickard, Daithi Sands 0-2 each, Matt Conlan, Shea Pucci, Ronan Beatty, Caolan Taggart, Daniel Toner and Barry Trainor 0-1 each
Derry scorers: Christy McNaughton 0-7 (5f), Richie Mullan 0-2f, John Mullan, Eamon Cassidy, Deaghlan Foley, Sean Marty Quinn 0-1 each

Down: Stephen Keith, Matt Conlan, Tom Murray, John McManus, Niall McFarland, Liam Savage, Caolan Taggart, Phelim Savage, Tim Prenter, Shea Pucci, Eoghan Sands Chris Egan, Daithi Sands, Pearse Og McCrickard, Tom McGrattan
Subs: Ronan Beatty for Pucci (HT) Paul Sheehan for Egan (HT), Barry Trainor for McFarland (47), Sean Martin Quinn for Shea Cassidy (49), Finn Turpin for McCrickard (54) Daniel Toner for E Sands (60)

Derry: Sean Kelly, Padhraig Nelis, Mark Craig, Sean Cassidy, Thomas Brady, Richie Mullan, Meehaul McGrath, Callum O'Kane, Ryan McGill, Corey O'Reilly, Gerald Bradley, John Mullan, Shea Cassidy, Christy McNaughton, Eamon Cassidy.
Subs: Deaghlan Foley for Bradley (INJ 31mins), James Friel for O'Kane (41), Darragh Cartin for E Cassidy (55), Aimon Duffin for Craig (63)

Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)