Derry’s senior footballers have defeated Kerry by two points in their Allianz National League Division One clash in Killarney on a scoreline of 0-16 to 0-14.
Mark Lynch: top scorer.
It will be a result that will delight Oak Leaf manager Brian McIver as his Oak Leaf side had to come behind after going three points behind early in the game.
He will also be pleased that seven players got on the scoreboard, Mark Lynch top scoring with 0-4.
Kerry, playing with the breeze, opened the scoring after just two minutes with a point from Cox.
Two points, one a free, from Keane extended the lead to three after eight minutes.
However, Derry were not put off by the early setbacks and knuckled down to take command with points from Mark Lynch, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Enda Lynn and Kevin Johnston putting them a point ahead after 18 minutes.
Another Keane free in the 21st minute levelled the game before Jack Sherwood pointed four minutes later to put the home side back in front.
Ciaran McGoldrick brought Derry level again with a fisted point in the 28th minute before two points from Jimmy Kielt, one a free, restored the lead in the 32nd minute.
A Conor Cox point for Kerry saw Derry go in at half-time leading on a scoreline of 0-07 to 0-06.
Shortly after the restart, an exchange of points from Emmett McGuckin and Conor Cox kept a point between the sides before a long range free from Mark Lynch doubled the Derry advantage on a scoreline of 0-09 to 0-07.
Keeper Thomas Mallon produced a great save to deny Kerry a goal in the 45th minute before points from Lyne and O’Donoghue saw the scores level again after 48 minutes.
Derry hit back with scores from Emmett McGuckin and third point of the game from Banagher’s Mark Lynch to restore their two point lead.
A Conor Cox point was followed by a excellent move by Derry which ended with Enda Lynn putting over the bar for his second point of the game and restore Derry’s two-point advantage of a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-11.
Another Cox point in the 60th minute was matched by an excellent score by Emmett McGuckin before Ballinacreen’s Benny Heron put the visitors in the driving sit when he fired over with just eight minutes remaining.
Kerry’s man of the match Cox reduced the arrears with another point from a free which Mark Lynch matched to keep Derry three points in front, 0-16 to 0-13.
O’Brien reduced the deficit to two points just before the end.
