Christy Ring Cup: O'Doherty the hero as Derry make their point
June 02, 2018
Slaughtneil's Cormac O'Doherty.
©INPHO/Oisin Keniry.
A last gasp Cormac O'Doherty goal from a '65' has helped secure a Christy Ring Cup semi-final berth for Derry in dramatic fashion.
O'Doherty's last gasp heroics boosted the Oak Leafers to a 1-29 to 2-19 victory over Ulster rivals Down at Maghera.
Crucially, the winning margin of seven points means the winners finish second in the Group B table on score difference - one point ahead of the Mourne County!
Despite conceding an early goal to Daithi Sands, the hosts led by 0-16 to 1-11 at the change of ends.
Sands raised his second green flag of the contest in the second-half but that was cancelled out by O'Doherty in the 69th minute.
Two further points proved to be sufficient to send Colm McGuirk's charges into the business end of the competition.
Meanwhile, London will have home comforts in the semi-final stage after they got the better of Armagh today.
Fergus McMahon's side recorded a resounding 4-27 to 0-11 victory over the Orchard County in the Athletic Grounds.
That means the Exiles finish top of the group with a score difference of +28 compared to Derry's +24 and Down's +23 while the Orchard County are relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2018.
Derry - R Convery (0-1f); S Cassidy, N Farren, P Cleary; C McKenna, E McGill, C Waldron (0-1); M McGuigan (0-1), C McKaigue (0-1); M McGrath (0-3), G Bradley, N Waldron (0-1); C O'Doherty (1-17, 0-16f), S McGuigan, B Cassidy (0-2). Subs: A Grant (0-2) for N Farren, A O'Donnell for N Waldron, O McCloskey for G Bradley, D Cartin for B Cassidy.
Down - S Keith; B Byers, P McManus, M Hughes; M Fisher, R McCrickard, L Savage; D McManus (0-3), R Branagan (0-1); P Og McCrickard (0-1), C Bailie (0-1), P Sheehan (0-9, 6f); D Sands (2-0), D Toner (0-1), E Sands (0-1). Subs: O McManus (0-2) for E Sands, C Teggart for P Og McCrickard.
Referee - J Connors.
**
London - J Barrett; D O'Regan, B Regan, C McAlinden (0-1); A O'Leary, K Reid, C Burke (0-4); F Collins (1-0), H Vaughan (1-0); K O'Loughlin, M Dwyer (0-3), C Nelson (0-6); A Sheehan (0-4, 1f, 2'65), S Lawless (1-2), M Duggan (0-4). Subs: M Ivors (0-1f) for H Vaughan, J Troy (1-1) for M Duggan, D Moore for K Reid, D Roberts for A Sheehan, R Murphy (0-1) for C Nelson.
Armagh - S Doherty; D Magee, P Gaffney, A Fox; S Toal, C Clifford, J Corvan; N Curry, O Curry; D McKenna, B Short, D McCreesh (0-2); S Renaghan (0-2), E McGuinness (0-2), C McAnallen (0-5f). Subs: D Grant for D Magee, G McKeown for S Toal, P Quinn for P Gaffney.
Referee - A Devine.
