Derry back to their brilliant best

CITY of Derry produced a sparkling performance as they returned to winning ways on Saturday with an emphatic victory in their All Ireland League Round Robin game against Monivea, the Connacht Junior Champions at the Castle Grounds.

Bevan Lynch's side produced the level of performance on Saturday that they attained when they defeated Armagh three weeks ago in the playoff to determine the Ulster representatives in this Round Robin Series.

This was a revitalized re-energised City of Derry that shrugged off their lack lustre performance of two weeks ago against Seapoint and proved that having been forced into a four day turnaround after playing Armagh, it had left them physically and mentally drained and carrying too many injuries.

Monivea started in confident mood and had Derry under pressure inside their 22 metre line for the first fifteen minutes. However Bob McKillop led his troops by example and put his body on the line getting the support of both back and forwards. Sam McAuley, Karl Gemmell, Stephen Corr and Chris Shields made some massive hits in this initial period in keeping their line intact.

Derry eventually weathered the storm and a great break by Ryan Campbell almost resulted in a Derry try on 19 minutes courtesy of Sam McAuley but lack of support denied a score.

Monivea got their noses in front with a penalty from Ger O'Connor for a Derry infringement on 22 minutes and Richard McCarter failed for Derry from a similar distance three minutes later.

The visitors were coming more into the game and when Richard McCarter got quick ball on the Monivea 22 metre line on 30 minutes following good work by Sam McAuley and Sam Duffy, McCarter delivered a long pass to Simon Logue on the left wing who showed great strength and determination to fend off his man and pass inside for Peter Henderson to score an unconverted try wide out.

Derry's lead was short lived when another infringement at the breakdown on 35 minutes allowed Ger O'Connor to kick his second penalty for a 6-5 lead for the Connaught men.

Lynch's men were soon back on the attack with centres Jarred Bennett and Ryan Campbell to the fore and from a scrum on the Monivea 22 meter line quick ball from Andrew Semple to McCarter found Simon Logue wide left and he rounded his man for an exceptional try which McCarter converted to give Derry a 12-6 half time lead.

On 50 minutes an overthrow on their own 22 metre line found Stephen Simms at the back of the line-out who drew the out half before passing inside to Karl Gemmell to score a try under the posts which McCarter converted for a thirteen point lead.

Monivea came right back at Derry and two minutes later produced a flowing move that allowed their right winger Rory O'Connor to score an unconverted try in the corner to reduce the deficit to 19-11 in Derry's favour.

City of Derry were back in the Monivea 22 metre line form the kick off and intense pressure from Derry as Monivea moved the ball along their back-line inside their own 22 meter line allowed Richard McCarter to nip in and intercept the ball for a try under the posts which he converted himself to give Derry a 26-11 lead and more importantly a bonus point for a fourth try.

There were still 25 minutes left in the game and Monivea threw everything at Derry who had David Houston sin binned on 18 minutes, but Derry's pack were winning ball at will and Simms, Corr and Gemmell were producing go forward ball, Semple released McCarter on 75 minutes and McCarter waltzed in from 30 meters to score a converted try to give Derry a 33-11 lead.

To their credit the home side showed spirit right to the end and were rewarded with a try from Kevin Higgins with the last move of the game which was converted by Ger O'Connor to leave the final score 33-18 and a convincing win for City of Derry.

City of Derry Coach Bevan Lynch said after the game: "The dream is still alive and now our destiny is back in our own hands. Make no mistake about it but Monivea put it up to us today and they will give Seapoint a run for their money next week.

"We had to defend early but our discipline was exceptional and we were capable of opening them up when we got good ball.

"The support we had today was overwhelming and it was great as the team coach came through Monivea to see Derry faces from one end of the village to the other, it gave the team a great lift and made them want to perform for everybody."

City of Derry: Peter Henderson, Josh Lewis, Jared Bennett, Ryan Campbell, Simon Logue, Richard McCarter, Andrew Semple, Chris Shields, Sam McCauley, Sam Duffy, David Houston , BobMcKillop (Capt), Karl Gemmell, Stephen Simms, Stephen Corr. Replacements: Jason Mitchell, Stephen Duffy, Philip Brady, Mark O'Connor, Rudi Moore.