Derry out to ‘right the wrongs’ at Croker in Christy Ring Cup final

Christy Ring Cup Final | Derry vs. London | Croke Park | Saturday, 5pm

It’s just days out from the Christy Ring Cup final and Christy McNaughton is a combination of calm, cautious and tuned in at Derry’s meet and greet morning at Owenbeg.

It’s a fifth final for county and a fourth in five years but it’s a second for the Cushendall man since hooking up with the Oakleaf County.

Manager Johnny McGarvey first floated the idea but it didn’t suit at the time. Next up was Mark Craig and Cormac O’Doherty sounding him out.

When they were keen, the group’s leaders and longer serving hurlers, it made the decision an easier one. Why not?

“I've enjoyed my time since being here and it's good,” he said, before pointing to Derry’s core having walked down the final road before.

Derry lost to Meath two years ago after leaving themselves too much to do. There was a defeat Offaly before that. Last year, it was Kildare who overcame the Oakleafers.

“There are a lot of wrongs they're right,” McNaughton said. “It's just good that you get another chance at it because not too often you get another chance to get back to Croke Park and right the wrongs.”

IN PICTURES: Young hurling fans greet Derry at Owenbeg ahead of Christy Ring Cup Final

McNaughton, with 2-60, is Derry’s top scorer, playing in a role off the front two of Shéa Cassidy and Cahal Murray.

It has been a mixed season. There were heavy defeats at the hands of Down and Kerry early on before turning the corner. They were without injured players, including captain Cormac O’Doherty, and the experience they bring.

“I think we knew that and it was just getting through that period,” McNaughton said. “We're doing the same things now as we were then, but it's just we're more consistent at it now and all the boys are back, so we have a good squad there now.”

The common theme in the squad is their turning point. In any interview, the players and manager Johnny McGarvey said the same. Their defeat to Kildare.

“I know we got beat by Kildare but we actually hurled well enough because they're at a higher level,” McNaughton echoed.

“You can see now, they are in the Joe McDonagh final and they probably fancy themselves for that so I think the game against them is where it turned.”

The following week against Meath, Murray and Cassidy were sharp inside. O’Doherty and McNaughton were providing the bullets and there was a collective turn up of the heat. Turnovers, energy and more turnovers.

“That's the thing, if you work hard enough these chances will fall,” McNaughton added of their season’s turn.

“That's what we're built on, trying to be the hardest working team and then when the chances come you just have to take them.

“All over the pitch from Eamon Conway in midfield to Cormac being back in there now and Shéa and Cahal, they have been taking the chances so it's good.”

It takes two to tango and while Derry have been annexing impressive tallies, there is a steeliness in their defence. The fact they were devastated not to keep a clean sheet against Wicklow when the Garden County hit a late, late consolation goal spoke volumes.

“The defence is tough there,” McNaughton said. “Paddy Turner, Sean (Cassidy) and Mark (Craig), the boys in full-back line, they're beating us up every Tuesday and Thursday night at training so I can just imagine what they're doing in games.”

That’s the last line but it’s up to the forward line to set the tone. A hook or a block and it makes everyone’s life easier further back in the Derry team.

Now, it’s Croke Park, a rematch with London and a chance to get their hands on the elusive silverware.

It’s not new ground. Between previous finals, club action, school finals and the All-Ireland U20 win, Derry have an array of players who have tasted HQ. There won’t be that novel factor and the distractions it threatens.

“I know the day can take over for some people but I think now the whole group has been there,” said McNaughton, adding how they are treating it as another game.

“I don't think it means as much now as it would if it was your first time, you can get overwhelmed but I think we'll be alright on that side of things.”

Saturday’s opponents London aren’t new either with Derry having won the group game between the teams earlier in the season over in Ruislip.

It took a gutsy comeback and two Cormac O’Doherty goals after a first half McNaughton ranks as “the hardest” they’ve had this season.

“The way they outworked us, they were more physical,” he recalls, “so we're just going to have to step up from that day.

“They get a man sent off in the second half and they helped us at that stage. Then we had the goals from Cormac, a break off a high ball in and he just finished it well.

“We kicked on from that but we'll need to be on it from the start this weekend. They're coming in and they’ll have their homework done.

“They'll fancy themselves and we fancy ourselves too. We know enough about them to know it's going to be a tough game. It so it might go the whole way, it might even go to extra time but we'll be ready for it.”