Double delight for Judges Road men

CITY of Derry continued their pre season preparations with a short tour to Munster last weekend.

They defeated Thomond in Limerick on Friday night in convincing style when they scored five tries and shocked the locals who were unbeaten at home for over a year.

Thomond started the game on the attack but good defence saw Derry survive the early welcome to Limerick and repel the onslaught. Derry gradually played themselves into the game and on ten minutes Phil Brady got in for a try the product of over twenty phases of play, Richard Peoples converted.

Derry went further ahead on fifteen minutes; Funston made a searing break into the Thomond 22 meter line and found Simon Logue to score a converted try by the posts. Derry's ambition continued and with Semple on fire it was a case of attack, attack and Bob McKillop got in for an unconverted try on 20 minutes after sustained pressure on the Thomond line. The home side got in for a converted try before the break to leave the half time score 19-7 in favour of Derry.

The visitors were immediately back on the attack after the break with Stephen Corr, Chris McDonnell and Richard Baird taking play to the Thomond 22. Derry won a scrum and Stephen Ferguson produced a No 8 pick up and drive that saw him brush aside three tacklers in a powerful 20 metre run to score a converted try under the posts with just five minutes gone.

Thomond had the best of the next 25 minutes when they scored three tries two of which were converted to leave the sides level at 19-19 all with ten minutes to go.

With five minutes remaining Richard Peoples made a break from his own half following good play from Philip Duffy, Peoples found Philip Brady who powered forward and passed to Stephen Corr who finished a great move with a converted try between the posts to give Derry a famous victory by 33-26 and setup a great weekend.

Derry travelled to Kerry on Saturday morning to play Tralee last years Munster Junior League runners-up behind Richmond.

Derry continued from where they left off on Friday night with two early tries from Stephen Duffy and Bob McKillop both converted by Richard Peoples.

Tralee got back into the game with two penalties and a converted try to leave a one point game after twenty minutes. Bevan Lynch's side increased their lead on 35 minutes when Richard Baird made a fine break before Andrew Semple found Stephen Corr to score a converted try to give Derry a 21-13 half-time lead.

Derry put the game to bed with two converted tries within the first 10 minutes of the second half from Simon Logue and Jack Caithness. The Derry defence was outstanding and held Tralee up when they got over the line on two occasions.

Derry eventually turned over the ball courtesy of a superb tackle by Simon Logue that initiated a flowing move that carried play the length of the filed for Richard Peoples to score a try and convert it himself to give Derry victory by 42-13.