McCarter inspires win

THIS result continues City of Derry’s good run of form with their seventh consecutive win in all competitions.

The North West men were 10-3 down at half-time but five superb tries and 34 points on the scoreboard ensured a bonus point victory.

That win continued Derry’s march up the All Ireland League Division 2A table and could end with them achieving their goal for the season of a top four finish and who knows with just four games to go a second place finish and a play off for promotion could be a reality rather that a dream.

The early pressure came from Derry but it was Thomond who were first on the scoreboard after ten minutes with a simple move along the backline that saw centre Mike Russell get in for a try which was unconverted and it was a 5pts to nil lead for the home side.

Bevan Lynch’s side were finding it difficult to cope with the big Thomond pack at the breakdown and with little protection when ball was won for scrumhalf Andrew Semple the backline were never able to work with quality possession.

Thomond were looking the stronger team and in typical Munster style they pick and drove to the Derry line on twenty four minutes and hooker Alan O’Donnell got in for an unconverted try and a 10-0 lead for the Limerick men and things were not looking good for the visitors.

The visitors increased time on the ball gave them confidence and continued pressure saw repeated infringements at the breakdown and it was no surprise when Thomond had Alan O’Donnell sent to the sin bin after thirty eight minutes and Richard McCarter kicked the resultant penalty from 20 meters in front of the posts and Derry were down 10-3 as the referee blew the half-time whistle.

The coaches Bevan Lynch and Mark Nicholl set the template for victory to their players at half time and what a start they had to the second half with Thomond still down to 14 players.

The Derry pack won possession in the Thomond half from the kick off and Andrew Semple found Peter Henderson on his right 40 metres out, he made the break to release winger William McCleery who in turn showed a clean pair of heels as he scored in the corner for an unconverted try and Derry were right back in the game at only 10-8 down.

It was now all Derry as they were populating the breakdown with more intensity and began to produce quality possession for an always dangerous backline. It was only a matter of time before they took the lead and they did this on 52 minutes with an excellent penalty 40 metres out from Richard McCarter and Derry were 11-10 in front.

The Derry forwards were now in control with the back row of Stephen Corr, Stephen Duffy and Richard Baird outstanding and they had terrific support from Man of the Match David Houston in the second row.

The Judges Road men lost Corr to a shoulder injury early in the second half but on 55 minutes Gareth Beatty and Chris Shields won good ball in the Thomond half and released David Houston to make a telling break and as he drew the remaining defender before releasing Simon Logue who finished in style with a try which McCarter converted and Derry’s lead was 18-10.

Thomond reduced the arrears on 61 minutes with a penalty from Michael Ryan and Derry lead was 18-13.

Derry increased the intensity and when they kicked loose ball to Simon Logue in his own half he punished the home side as only he can with a mesmeric break which released the impressive Chris Barber to make an outside break himself and give Richard McCarter a run in try which he converted himself for a 23-13 lead.

Thomond had run out of steam as the game came to its conclusion and with the Derry pack out muscling them with pick and drive rugby Peter Henderson got in for the bonus point try in the closing stages which Richard Peoples converted and Derry lead by 30-13.

Thomond kicked off and when Josh Lewis released Sam McAuley to make an impressive powerful break to take play inside the opposition half he passed to the supporting Richard Peoples who ran in under the posts from 40 metres out and he converted himself to bring the final score to 37-13 and a great victory on Munster soil.

City of Derry: Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, David Houston, Brian Prue, Stephen Corr, Stephen Duffy, Richard Baird, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, Chris Barbour, William McCleery, Peter Henderson. Replacements: Cathal Cregan, Gareth Beatty, Adam Bratton, Richard Peoples, Josh Lewis.