Senior footballers keep league hopes alive

DUBLIN 0-8 DERRY 0-4

Dublin kept their league ambitions alive when they ground out victory in this dull NFL Division 1 clash at Croke Park on Saturday night.

Derry came with little ambition of winning as they deployed an ultra defensive blanket but unlike Donegal and to a lesser extent Tyrone were unable to really make the transition from defence to counter-attack that effectively.

The Oak Leaf side could only score two points from play over the 70-plus minutes and what the game lacked in scores it also lacked in entertainment.

Dublin fans were vocal in their displeasure of seeking Derry engage in a borefest of ball retention as they attempted to win by sheer defence alone.

After an almost forgettable first half in terms of highlights, bar Diarmuid Connolly's brilliant 46-metre strike in added time to make it Derry 0-3 the Dubs 0-2 at the interval, Dublin's performance improved in the second period.

The introduction of Cormac Costello injected a bit of life into Dublin's inside forward line and the Whitehall Colmcille's man landed an excellent point four minutes into the second half with hawkeye required to validate the score after the umpires had waved it wide.

Three minutes later Michael Darragh Macauley powered through the Derry defence but his fisted effort landed on the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

But the early signs suggested that Dublin were going to try break the Derry wall with more pace and power as opposed to a more patient approach.

Dean Rock's 46-metre free in the 47th minute gave Dublin the lead but it was cancelled out as Enda Lynn equalised with the game's next score, a full 12 minutes later, after Dublin sub James McCarthy lost possession on the attack.

That proved to be Derry's last score and their relegation was sealed over the final seven minutes of this game as Rock converted a free, Paddy Andrews clipped a fine point at the end of an enterprising move, Connolly slotted his second point, following super work by David Byrne, and Rock made it 0-8 to 0-4 with a point from play after a good run by Connolly.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Rock 0-3 (0-2f); D Connolly 0-2, C Costello, MD Macauley, P Andrews 0-1. Derry: B Heron (0-1 ’45'); J Kielt (0-1f), M Lynch, E Lynn 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, R O’Carroll, E Culligan; J Cooper, J Small, J McCaffrey; MD Macauley, T Brady; P Flynn, D Connolly, C Kilkenny; K McManamon, D Rock, B Brogan. Subs: C Costello for McManamon (ht); J McCarthy for Brady (41), David Byrne (Nh Olaf) for Culligan (41); P Andrews for Kilkenny (51); B Fenton for Macauley (53); Davey Byrne (Ballymun Kickhams) for Brogan (69).

DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, N Holly, K Johnston; L McGoldrick, C McAtamney, M McIver; M Lynch, E Bradley; S McGoldrick, D Heavron, E Lynn; B Heron, E McGuckin, J Kielt. Subs: T O’Brien for McGuckin, F Doherty for Bradley (46), C McFaul for Kielt (46); D McKinless for McIver (50); N McNicholl for L McGoldrick (66).

REF: C Lane (Cork).