McKeever goals see Derry to comfortable win over Wicklow
The Kevin Lynch's man hit 2-2 to see Derry come out of their Christy Ring group unbeaten.
CHRISTY RING CUP ROUND 3
Derry 2-23
Wicklow 0-18
A brace of goals from Odhran McKeever helped Derry on their way to victory at Owenbeg this afternoon in their Christy Ring clash against Wicklow.
In a tense first half, it was the visitors that made the more composed start, with frees from Andy O'Brien seeing them open up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 9 minutes.
Derry then hit a purple patch, landing 0-6 without reply as points from Cormac O'Doherty, Gerald Bradley, Brian Cassidy and Mark McGuigan threatened to overwhelm the Garden County.
After the water break, both teams took a while to settle back into their rhythm again. Two O'Brien frees got things moving again, with Christy Moorehouse and Eamonn Kearns sharing scores with O'Doherty and Gerald Bradley.
The Oakleafers would have gone in trailing at the break had it not been for a superb Oisín O'Doherty save.
The Slaughtneil man turned a fizzing effort low to his right over the bar to see Wicklow go in at the break 0-12 to 0-11 down.
The goal prompted a 0-2 salvo from the Oakleafers, and despite Wicklow hitting back through Daniel Staunton, Derry pushed on with points from substitute Deaghlán Foley and Sé McGuigan to stretch the lead to eight points.
Andy O'Brien continued to snipe from frees, but Odhran McKeever's quick reaction to a Sé McGuigan effort that came back off the post saw him net his second of the afternoon to leave Derry ahead by 2-20 to 0-16.
Referee Colm McDonald handed out four yellow cards after an incident of pushing and shoving, one of which was a second yellow for Wicklow's Daniel Staunton and saw them reduced to 14 men on 66 minutes.
Points from Brian Cassidy and substitute Padhraig Nelis saw Derry navigate the final minutes without incident, running out 2-23 to 0-18 winners.
DERRY: Oisín O'Doherty, Conor McAlister, Sean Cassidy, Meehaul McGrath, John Mullan, Conor Kelly, Richie Mullan, Eoghan Cassidy (0-2), Cormac O'Doherty (0-7, 5f, 1 65) Mark McGuigan (0-1), Gerald Bradley (0-3), Brendan Laverty, Odhran McKeever (2-2), Sé McGuigan (0-4), Brian Cassidy (0-2).
SUBS: Deaghlán Foley (0-1) for Brendan Laverty (44), Brian Óg McGilligan for Richie Mullan (60), Padhraig Nelis (0-1) for Eoghan Cassidy (69), Ruairí McWilliams for Odhran McKeever (69), Patrick O'Kane for Brian Cassidy (72)
YELLOW CARDS: M McGrath (40), O McKeever (65), B Cassidy (65)
WICKLOW: Cian Staunton, Peter Keane, Bryan Kearney, Martin O'Brien, Ciarán Breen, Daniel Staunton (0-1), John Henderson, Jack Doyle, Shaun Cranley (0-1), Christy Moorehouse (0-1), Mikey Lee, Eamonn Kearns (0-1), Gary Hughes (0-1), Andy O'Brien (0-12, 9f), Luke Evans (0-1)
SUBS: Eoin McCormack for Christy Moorehouse (40), Wayne Kinsella for Luke Evans (40), Gavin Weir for Mikey Lee (48), Mark Murphy for Jack Doyle (60)
YELLOW CARDS: D Staunton (34, 65), G Hughes (36), M O'Brien (65)
RED CARD: D Staunton (65)
REFEREE: Colm McDonald (Antrim)