National Hurling League Division 2B final

Derry 1-23
Sligo 2-15

By Michael McMullan

DERRY will be playing their hurling in Division 2A next season after seeing off Sligo in Ederney on Saturday afternoon.

Despite nine first-half wides, they led 1-8 to 1-7 at the break before pulling clear in the second half.

After an impeccable minutes silence in memory of former Sligo star Red Óg Murphy, Odhran McKeever hit Derry’s goal after four minutes when Deaglan Foley’s run and pass put him through

A Cormac O’Doherty ‘65’ added to the Derry tally before Sligo settled into the game with points from Finnian Cawley and an Andy Kilcullen free from his own ‘65’.

Joe McHugh and McKeever traded points, as Derry led 1-3 to 0-3 after 17 minutes.

Sligo got back to within a point before a powerful McGrath run put Brian Óg McGilligan in for a score.

O’Doherty, McKeever and Foley had Derry four points ahead before Sligo struck for goal.

A long ball from Oisin O’Doherty was cut out by Rory McHugh. His pass was picked up by Niall Feehily who turned inside McGrath before speeding through and hammering to the bottom corner of the net, helping make the half-time score 1-8 to 1-7 in Derry’s favour.

Fintan Bradley (2), McKeever and O’Doherty hit early points for Derry in the second half as they pushed in to a 1-17 to 1-10 lead after 53 minutes.

A goal from Joe McHugh put Sligo back in contention, cutting the margin to four points with 12 minutes to go.

Derry replied with a John Mullan point and two from centre back Conor Kelly as they pushed their way to victory.

Sligo won a stoppage time penalty, but substitute Gerard O’Kelly-blazed over the bar.

Derry now head into a Christy Ring campaign which begins at home to Wicklow.

Derry: O O’Doherty; C Hendry, M Craig, D McCloskey; M McGrath, C Kelly, P Kelly; C O’Doherty, D McGilligan; F Bradley, J Mullan, B Óg McGilligan; D Foley, O McKeever, G Bradley
Subs: G Farren for M McGrath (Blood sub 56, reversed 57 ), P Nelis for D Foley (60), S Kelly for O McKeever (69)
Yellow card: O McKeever (34)

Sligo: J Gordon; N Kilcullen, M Hannify, K O’Kennedy; G Connolly, R McHugh, N Feehily; F Cawley, F Connolly; C Hannify, J McHugh, K Gilmartin; R Brennan, A Kilcullen, T Cawley
Subs: T O’Kelly-Lynch for K Gilmartin (23), M Munnelly for R Brennan (HT), P Foley for F Connolly (43), G O’Kelly-Lynch for T Cawley (51), E Comerford for T O’Kelly-Lynch (69)
Yellow cards: M Hannify (44), F Cawley (60), K O’Kennedy (68)

Referee: C Cunning (Antrim)

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