Christy Ring Cup relegation play-off: Derry v Wicklow
(Saturday, Pairc Esler, 3.30pm)
DERRY were Christy Ring Cup finalists last year. On Saturday afternoon, they have to beat Wicklow to be sure of a place in the competition next year.
After the retirements of experienced trio Liam and Kevin Hinphey and Ruairi McCloskey, it was clear this season wasn’t going to be an easy one for the Oak Leafers and it has panned out that way.
Derry are locked in transition and, despite an encouraging start in their league opener against Antrim, they lost all five games in Division 2A and were relegated. Form has returned, but they haven’t quite been able to return to winning ways in the Christy Ring Cup and started with a 2-20 to 0-15 loss to Division 3A frontrunners Roscommon.
Tom McLean’s side bounced back against Ulster rivals Down and led most of the way before getting pipped at the finish and so they need to beat Wicklow to remain in the second-tier.
“It’s been tough going, but I have to give credit to the players that are there,” said McLean.
“They have battled on and kept working hard. A lot of the games we lost, we only lost them by three or four points. Against Down, we were leading right up to the 68th minute and we got beat.
“You just have to keep the head down, keep working hard and keep doing the right things and, hopefully, it’s our turn to get the right result this time. Tomorrow, we’ll be going out to throw the shackles off and have a go.”
Wicklow are a hard-working, physical outfit and they recorded wins against Mayo and Donegal in Division 2B of the National League. Their Christy Ring form has been indifferent - Meath beat them in round one and Kildare were eight points better in round 2B.
“There’s never too much between Derry and Wicklow,” said McLean.
“Wicklow will be coming very determined. That’s one thing about them, they’ll come and they’ll put themselves about, but that’s Championship hurling and I wouldn’t expect anything less. It’s up to us to match that and then hopefully things go our way. But I wouldn’t be saying anybody is favourites, I think it’s a 50-50 game.”
A round of mid-week club football fixtures forced McLean - already without Paddy Kelly (broken thumb) - to cut his training schedule to one session this week. To compound that, he is now sweating over the fitness of Eugene McGuckin, Paddy Henry, Gareth O’Kane and Paul Cleary, who are all carrying knocks and McLean will wait until the last-minute before deciding whether to include them.
“I’m giving them until tomorrow to see what way they are,” he said.
“Fingers crossed that at least a couple of them will be okay. The fellas play for their clubs and you let them at it - it’s just unfortunate, but I don’t believe in stopping them playing games. If you’re unlucky that way, it’s just too bad.”
McLean added: “For Derry moving forward, you want to be playing in the Christy Ring and we’ll not be lacking tomorrow. The boys will give their full commitment to it and do their best - that’s what everybody’s been doing all year. Hopefully, the tide will turn and it’ll be Derry’s day tomorrow.”
