Allianz National Hurling League Division 2A: Derry v London (Sunday, 1pm, Owenbeg)
DERRY boss Tom McLean has been forced to reshuffle his pack after finishing last week’s 22-point defeat at the hands of Carlow with 12 men.
Corner-back Darragh McCloskey and wing-back Conor McSorley were both shown straight red cards late on as the Barrowsiders ran riot and miss tomorrow’s crunch clash with London at Owenbeg.
Anton Rafferty and Alan Grant have been drafted in. Paddy Kelly, who was also sent off after receiving two yellow cards at Netwatch Cullen Park, drops back to take the full-back slot, with Rafferty coming in for the missing McSorley.
Oisin McCloskey starts at number six, with Brendan Quigley returning in midfield alongside Banagher’s Tiarnan McCloskey. Ballinascreen’s Paul Cleary moves into the half-forward division alongside the returning Grant and Jonathan O’Dwyer, with Mark McGuigan named in the corner in a full-forward line also comprising Gareth O’Kane and Ruairi Convery. Brendan Laverty drops to the bench.
With three games gone and no points on the board, Derry need to start winning - and fast - if they are to avoid the dreaded drop to Division 2B. It has been a frustrating campaign so far for the Oak Leafs, as they played well for long spells in their opening games against the table-topping pair of Antrim and Westmeath.
Lapses in concentration cost them in the end as they finished up empty-handed in both, but Derry were widely expected to get the show on the road last week against a Carlow side coming off a 5-16 to 1-11 shellacking at the hands of the Exiles.
As it transpired, McLean’s men suffered the full force of the Carlow backlash. Stung by that defeat in London, Pat English’s side came out like men possessed and, after a close first 20 minutes, put Derry to the sword in some style. The Oak Leaf players “lost their heads a wee bit” after falling behind, admits McLean, and having three men sent to the line compounded an already miserable day.
Derry are fast approaching the last chance saloon if they are to remain in Division 2A. Victory over London is essential – and you would have to expect a bit of fire in the belly when they take to the field tomorrow.
TEAM NEWS
Derry: D McDermott; S McCullagh, P Kelly, E McGuckin; M McGrath, O McCloskey, A Rafferty; T McCloskey, B Quigley; J O’Dwyer, P Cleary, A Grant; G O’Kane, R Convery, M McGuigan
London: E Kelly; T Lawrence, L Guale, C McAlinden; F Collins, B Regan, O Gately; N McDonnell, D Browne; M O'Dwyer, K Reid, M Duggan; K O'Loughlin, B Walsh, D Roberts
