Sluggish start for Oakleafers

THE score line tells its own story as new Derry manager James O'Kane said after the game and in truth that scoreline could have read even worse had not Kerry's normally deadly Shane Brick not had a complete off day with his frees.

He recorded six shots off target in his team's ten first half wides and it could have proved costly had Derry been more clinical when they got the upper hand for the opening twenty minutes of the second half.

In that period Derry managed to cut their eight point half time deficit to three and the comeback looked to be on until Derry goalie McDermott and defender Farren collided leaving the visitors full forward Dooley with a simple tap in goal.

That ended the Derry hopes on a Celtic park pitch that was perfect for hurling but as far as the small crowd was concerned there was little to enthuse about in terms of quality.

Kerry had the more settled team and among their management team is former Cork star John Meyler, they were much sharper and cohesive and obviously had been able to get in a lot more preparation. Derry were not in such a fortunate position, James O'Kane was just confirmed as manager after Christmas and most of January was an impossibility as far as training was concerned. The team will improve but another defeat at this early stage would be worrying.

The defence was poor on Sunday despite the efforts of goalie McDermott, Corner back Ruairi McCloskey and right half Aaron McCloskey. More was expected of the big midfield pairing of Kevin Hinphey and Ruairi Convery but they only showed what they could do in the opening twenty minutes of the second half. In attack the full forward line was weak and it was only wing forward Paddy Henry who created any degree of danger.

Kerry had some very fine players none more than 20 year old corner forward Darragh O'Connell who scored 2-3, livewire sub James Flaherty showed that the visitors had a lot of strength in depth and that they will be strong favourites to win promotion back to Division Two.

The Kerry team flew to Dublin and then travelled by coach stopping in Omagh overnight, they were delighted to see the superb condition of Celtic Park and apart from the chilly air it was a perfect day for hurling.

Kerry looked to be the more confident team in the early exchanges and by the seventh minute Michael Boyle, Darragh O'Connell and Gary O'Brien had given them a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with Paddy Henry registering the Derry score from a free. Then the gap was down to one when Ruairi Convery sent over a huge free but gradually the sharper looking Kerry men began to open up the gap. Shane Brick from a free and corner forward O'Connell made it 0-5 to 0-2. Respective midfielders Convery and Griffin were on target Kerry's normally accurate free taker Shane Brick was having an off day and that kept Derry in the game. However, poor defensive work let in O'Connell for an easy goal and by half time Kerry had built a comfortable looking 1-9 to 0-4 lead.

Derry started the second half were and amid some missed chances Paddy Henry sub Alan Grant and Convery cut the gap to five points. Sub Flaherty hit Kerry's first score for fifteen minutes and then came a converted Oisin McCloskey penalty that left just three between the sides.

Hopes of a comeback were shattered when that defensive mix up let in full forward John Mike Dooley for an easy goal and there was no way back for a tiring Derry team.

In injury time the impressive Darragh O'Connell scored a fine solo goal and the final score of the game fell to Ruairi Convery but that was a mere statistic.

Kerry scorers D. O. Connell 2-3, J.M. Dooley 1-1, S. Brick, J. Flaherty, J. Griffin 0-2 each, M. Boyle, G. O'Brien, T. Murnane 0-1 each.

Related topics: