Allianz National Hurling League Division 2A: Carlow v Derry
(Sunday, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm)
TWO games down, two decent performances, but no points on the board. Derry, admits Ruairi Convery, are approaching the make-or-break stage of their Division 2A campaign.
A superb first-half performance against Antrim, in which the big Swatragh forward ran riot - scoring six as the Oak Leafs led by five at the break - was followed by a poor second-half showing that reaped only 1-4 to the Saffrons’ 1-15. Westmeath were next in Mullingar - and it was a similar story as two second-half goals left the Oak Leafs marooned.
There is a recurring theme and, with Derry facing Carlow in a crunch clash at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday, Convery knows they are entering must-win territory: “It’s definitely getting towards that,” he said.
“We’ve had two good enough performances, but no points. We had a good first-half against Antrim and then we played well all over the pitch against Westmeath. We just can’t seem to transfer that into the second-half. Maybe it’s a wee bit of naivety on all our parts.
“We’re very disappointed to be sitting there with no points on the board when we could easily be sitting top with four points. But that’s the reality of life in this division.”
Derry lost some experienced campaigners following the retirement of the Hinphey brothers, Kevin and Liam, and defender Oisin McCloskey before the league had even got under way. But boss Tom McLean reports no fresh injuries in the aftermath of the Westmeath game.
Slaughtneil’s Meehaul McGrath came into the half-back line against the Lake county in place of Lavey’s Dermot O’Neill and holds onto his spot for the trip to take on a Carlow side still reeling from their stunning 5-16 to 1-11 home reversal against London a fortnight ago.
The Barrowsiders were 1/25 favourites to beat the Exiles and boss Pat English has a huge job on his hands to lift his troops for the visit of Derry. Convery is understandably wary of a sting in the tail and says the Oak Leafs will try to capitalise on any hint of trepidation from the Leinster side.
“We’re going to have to try and take advantage of that early on, try and get on top of them,” said Convery.
“We’ve played Carlow many times down the years and they can hurl, so we need to get a grip of the game early. A 10-or-15 minute spell in the second-half of both games so far has cost us and that’s something we have to rectify.
“I don’t know what’s going on in Carlow - you hear stories that they’re missing men but, obviously, we’re missing a lot of men from last year too. We just have to worry about ourselves. We just need that one victory to get us up and running and a win over Carlow would set us up nicely for the rest of the league.”
Carlow will either come out fighting or retreat into their shells after that shocking loss to London. Expect the Oak Leafs to get their league campaign up and running with a win at the third time of asking.
TEAM NEWS
Derry: D McDermott; D McCloskey, S McCullagh, E McGuckin; C McSorley, P Kelly, M McGrath; O McCloskey, T McCloskey; J O’Dwyer, M McGuigan, G O’Kane; S Farren, R Convery, P Cleary.
Carlow: TBA.
