Fergie inspires Nicholl’s men

CITY of Derry produced a tremendous fight-back to secure a narrow 24-20 win at Greystones, on Saturday.
City of Derry's Richard Baird dives over the Greystones line to secure the Judges Road team's late AIL victory in Wicklow on Saturday.City of Derry's Richard Baird dives over the Greystones line to secure the Judges Road team's late AIL victory in Wicklow on Saturday.
City of Derry's Richard Baird dives over the Greystones line to secure the Judges Road team's late AIL victory in Wicklow on Saturday.

The win in County Wicklow moves the Judges Road men up into fourth place in the All Ireland League.

The game went ahead after a pitch inspection on Friday afternoon as the ground was waterlogged on Thursday night and with N11 closed due to flooding for most of Friday it was a surprise when the news came through that the game was to go ahead.

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The pitch was in perfect condition come game time with a strong cross field drying wind although bitterly cold. Greystones considering their position of second from bottom of the league table came out all guns blazing from the off and were well stoked up for this fixture by their coach Reggie Corrigan.

The home team seemed to get a crucial penalty each time the got within kicking distance and Kealy added three penalties for offside infringements on three, eight and eighteen minutes to confirm Greystones dominance as the first quarter ended with a 9-0 lead.

The Derry scrum was dominant throughout with Stephen Jefferson, Sam McAuley and Sam Duffy in the front row having the upper hand on their opponents supported by Chris Cooper and Stephen Corr in the second row.

Derry played themselves back into the game and from a solid scrum in their own half Jack Caithness found full back Simon Logue who made a great run deep into the Greystones half and when stopped Greystones went off side at the breakdown. Richard McCarter kicked the resultant penalty from 35 metres and in the process reduced the deficit to 9-3 with 27 minutes gone.

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Soon after Derry were caught off side again when Greystones got into the red zone and Kealy kicked a penalty from 30 metres and the home side were 12-3 in front.

Derry’s first up tackling was passive as was their work at the breakdown and Greystones were once again back in the Derry half on 32 minutes. Greystones won a scrum 30 metres from the Derry line and quick ball allowed their scrum half Roddy Carroll to chip behind the Derry defence, their wing forward Alan Dempsey touched down wide out for an unconverted try and a 17-3 lead for the home team.

Derry won a five metre scrum on the Greystones line as the first half entered injury time. The pack produced when required with four dominant scrums in a row which were collapsed from pressure by Greystones and on the fifth infringement the referee awarded a penalty try. Richard McCarter converted and Derry got to the break 17-10 down.

Greystones again started the second half the better and misses a kickable penalty after two minutes. The penalty count against Derry was well up the teens at this stage and Greystones kicked a penalty into the corner to setup real pressure after ten minutes.

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Continual Derry infringement saw Chris Cooper sent to the sin bin and Kealy kicked the resultant penalty for a 20-10 lead after 53 minutes.

Minutes later Greystones missed another kickable penalty and Paul McFeely came on for Derry to replace Sam Duffy and as the game entered the final quarter the Judges Road men suddenly clicked into gear and began to perform.

Derry won a line out through Chris Cooper outside the Greystones 22 after 64 minutes and man of the match Stephen Ferguson took the ball forward once more, David Ferguson made a good break up the left wing and when the ball was recycled Richard Baird got in for a try which was converted by Richard McCarter and Derry were right back in the game at 17-20 down.

Soon after Derry won a penalty which was kickable 30 metres out but they decided to kick to the corner and go for the jugular. Cooper won the line out and Derry drove for the line, three infringements later and Greystones had their tight head prop Bobby Clancy sent to the bin.

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There was a hold up in play as Greystones through substitutions had manufactured a situation where the game had to go to uncontested scrums and deny Derry a push over try with such a dominant scrum.

Fortune favoured the brave and Derry were not to be denied as Richard Baird got in to touch down for a try from the uncontested scrum and with McCarter converting Derry were in front for the first time leading 24-20.

Greystones had no more to offer and Derry dominated the final ten minutes of the game which saw David Graham just bundled into touch just short of the line in the last play of the game when a try would have given Derry a bonus point victory.

Mark Nicholl’s side’s last home All Ireland League game of the season takes place this weekend when they host Midleton (KO 2.30pm).

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City of Derry: Steven Jefferson, Sam McCauley, Sam Duffy, Stephen Corr, Chris Cooper, Tom Patton, Richard Baird, Stephen Ferguson, Jack Caithness, Richard McCarter, William McCleery, David Funston, Chris Barber, Ryan Campbell, Simon Logue. Replacements: David Ferguson, Paul McFeely, Chris Shields, David Graham, Peter Henderson.