A late Jonathan O’Dwyer goal earned Derry hurlers a semi-final spot in hard-fought Leinster Kehoe Cup quarter-final victory over Trinity College at Clanna Gael, Ringsend (Dublin) yesterday.
O’Dwyer pounced to find the back of the net from close range in the 68th minute, finishing off a superb move involving Convery.
A Colm Gleeson fifth minute goal for Trinity was cancelled out a Ruairi Convery converted penalty 20 minutes later.
Scores by Gleeson, Niall Redmond and Brian Hughes ensured a 1-9 to 1-6 interval lead for the students.
Points from Hughes and Redmond extended the lead after the restart but another Convery penalty from the visitors to within a point of their hosts in the 51st minute.
After Derry, aided by a stiff breeze, took the lead for the first time, Trinity went in front again with an excellent solo goal from Paul Coughlan in the 63rd minute.
But the students were to be taught how to finish when O’Dwyer pounced with what proved with the winning score.
DERRY – M Taggart; A Rafferty, S McCullough, E McGuckin; D O’Neill, T McCloskey, K Hinphey; M O’Hagan, N Ferris; A Grant (0-1), R Convery (2-6), S McCloskey (0-2); J O’Dwyer (1-1), S McBride, P Cleary. Subs: A Kelly (0-1) for McBride, R McCloskey for O’Hagan and C McQuillan for Ferris (48), T O’Kane for Cleary (66).
Michael McCracken, Derry vice-chairperson and chairperson of the Hurling Development Committee, said the competition provided “excellent” pre-season games.
He said: “In our annual review with the senior hurling management team, one of the things which came up was the problem of getting pre-season challenge games. Historically, it has very difficult to do so at this time of the year.
“We identified the solution of applying to the Leinster Council to participate in the Kehoe Cup, and were delighted to be accepted by them. It’s something which, in parallel with the hard work the hurlers are putting in, gives them a better chance of hitting the ground running with respect to our league campaign.”
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