Derry stunned by late Wicklow surge in Aughrim heartbreak

The Derry senior hurlers suffered a disappointing 2-12 to 1-14 defeat to Wicklow GAA in Round 2 of the Christy Ring Cup on Sunday afternoon at Echelon Park in Aughrim.

The result leaves Johnny McGarvey’s men with plenty to do if they are to reach a fourth consecutive Christy Ring Cup final and finally end their long wait for silverware, particularly with a demanding run of fixtures still to come.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect for Derry will be the manner of the defeat. With twenty minutes remaining, they held a commanding 1-12 to 1-8 advantage and looked well placed to push on and secure a second victory of the campaign.

However, McGarvey’s side faded badly in the closing stages, failing to score again until stoppage time when Shea Cassidy finally ended their drought.

It was Wicklow’s first victory over Derry since 2019, and the Oakleafers travelled to Aughrim on the back of an opening-round win against Roscommon, fully aware that the hosts were facing a must-win situation after their defeat to Donegal the previous weekend. Both counties also experienced contrasting league campaigns, with Wicklow lifting the Division Three title while Derry suffered relegation from Division Two.

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Wicklow elected to play with the aid of a strong breeze blowing from right to left and made the brighter start through early points from Tommy Collins and Jack Doyle, which put them 0-2 to 0-0 ahead by the fourth minute before Eamonn Conway opened Derry’s account two minutes later with a well-taken solo effort.

Darragh McGilligan followed with an equaliser before the impressive Pádraig Doyle struck the game’s first goal in the ninth minute, pulling on a loose ball inside the Derry square to fire low beyond goalkeeper Seán Kelly.

To their credit, Derry responded immediately with a free from Cormac O'Doherty, followed by an excellent point from play by Shea Cassidy to reduce the deficit to the minimum. Brendan Ryan replied for Wicklow before further scores from O’Doherty and Conor Coyle brought the sides level at 1-3 to 0-6 by the twentieth minute.

Doyle edged Wicklow back in front before three successive placed balls from O’Doherty pushed Derry ahead for the first time as the Oakleaf County moved 0-9 to 1-4 in front by the half-hour mark.

Doyle responded with a well-struck free from a tight angle before O’Doherty matched him at the other end to keep Derry in control.

With the final puck of the half, Doyle added another free to leave the contest finely balanced at the interval, though McGarvey’s side held a narrow 0-10 to 1-6 advantage at the break.

O’Doherty and Doyle resumed their scoring duel after the restart before Darragh Foley produced arguably the score of the afternoon with an excellent effort from near the sideline.

Luke Evans then saw a goal-bound effort brilliantly blocked by Patrick Turner at forty-five minutes, and from the resulting play, Patrick Doyle added another free to reduce the deficit to just a single point. Derry soon created a goal opportunity of their own when O’Doherty released substitute Seán Quinn, but defender Ben O’Dowd reacted sharply to deny him.

However, three minutes later Derry did find the net as Shea Cassidy rose behind Andrew Kavanagh to meet a superb diagonal delivery from Conor Coyle and batted the ball to the net, extending Derry’s lead to 1-12 to 1-8 and putting them firmly in control.

From that point onwards, though, Wicklow seized the initiative completely, registering 1-4 without reply. A hat-trick of points from Doyle steadied the hosts before Jack Doyle finished to the net from close range after reacting quickest to a flick from Fionn Darcy.

Despite still having eleven minutes remaining, Derry struggled to create clear opportunities as they chased the game. Thomas Brady saw a goal effort well saved by Conor McNally, while the Wicklow defence recovered in numbers to deny further openings.

Cassidy eventually ended Derry’s scoring drought with an excellent over-the-shoulder point in stoppage time before Darcy extended Wicklow’s lead to two points at 2-12 to 1-13.

O’Doherty had one final opportunity from a close-range free, but his effort was blocked, allowing Conway to add a point from the loose ball as Wicklow secured a hard-earned victory.

It now represents a significant challenge for McGarvey’s side to finish in the top two following this setback, with the visit of Donegal, who ran Kerry close at the weekend, to Find Insurance Celtic Park next weekend looming large as Derry look to keep their Christy Ring Cup ambitions alive.

Wicklow Scorers: Padraig Doyle 1-7 (6f), Jack Doyle 1-1, Tommy Collins 0-2, Brendan Ryan 0-1, Fionn Darcy 0-1.

Derry Scorers: Cormac O’Doherty 0-7 (7f), Shea Cassidy 1-2, Eamonn Conway 0-2, Deaghlan Foley 0-1, Conor Coyle 0-1, Darragh McGilligan 0-1

Wicklow: Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Bryan Kearney, Kenneth Cullen; Padraig Doran, John Henderson, James Boland; Tommy Collins, Sam O’Dowd; Andrew Kavanagh, Jack Phelan, Luke Evans; Jack Doyle, Padraig Doyle, Cillian Davis. Subs: Fionn Darcy for Evans (53 mins), Seanie Germaine for Sean Doyle (69 mins).

Derry: Sean Kelly; Jamie Lee McGlade, Patrick Turner, Cathair McGilligan; Eunan Boyle, Meehaul McGrath, Conor Coyle; Eamonn Conway, Thomas Brady; Darragh McGilligan, Fintan Bradley, Joseph Mulholland; Cormac O’Doherty, Shea Cassidy. Subs: Sean Quinn for Boyle (42 mins), Ryan McGarvey for Brady (60 mins), Tiarnan Melaugh for Bradley (60 mins), Conor Melaugh for Quinn (60 mins), Ruairi Biggs for Conway (71 mins).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)