Derry v Galway - How it happened

Allianz NFL Division 2 – Derry 2-12 Galway 1-18

LATE GOALS MASK IMPRESSIVE TRIBESMEN PERFORMANCE

When Niall Loughlin placed his shot beyond the dive of Manus Breathnach in the last seconds it reduced Galway’s lead to three points.  It flattered the home team who played second fiddle all afternoon.

The consensus in the buildup to this game centred on it’s importance in the promotion race and afterwards the opinion was that it was going to be a dogfight to see who joins Tyrone in the promotion mix. 

It was a flat Derry performance.  Brian McGuckin and Cailean O’Boyle both admitted that it was a concern but with Tyrone up next on Saturday evening, it certainly is the perfect pick me up.

Kevin Walsh’s side ran Derry ragged and the fact their wing backs contributed 0-5 between them tells it’s own story.

The key in sport is not to get too carried away with your wins and similarly don’t dwell too much on the defeats.

This week that will be easier said than done but when Derry assemble to pick through the rubble of this defeat, they will discuss the merits of moving the ball quicker.

Anytime they did on Sunday the Oakleafers made headway against the Galway defence.  It just didn’t happen often enough.

Another aspect was Derry’s seventeen spurned chances in comparison to Galway’s ten. 

Here are the key moments from the game.

TEAM SELECTION – Derry lined out as selected, Galway started Shane Walsh ahead of Fiontain Ó’Curraoin with Tom Flynn switching to midfield. 

The McKaigue’s picked up Galway’s dangerous inside duo, Karl on Adrian Varley with Chrissy assigned to Damien Comer. 

With Eamon Brannigan playing in a more advanced role, he was followed by Ryan Ferris.  Gareth McKinless lined out at centre back on Shane Walsh. 

At the other end Clonbur’s rookie full back Declan Kyne had the task of shackling Mark Lynch, David Wynne picked up Daniel McKinless before he was black carded after ten minutes for a foul on James Kielt.  Finian Hanley came into the defence.

The Oakleafers were against a slight breeze and attacked the Brandywell end in the first half.     

8mins – After a well contested opening period Galway opened up a two point lead.  Derry lost possession in a clustered half forward area, Tom Flynn counter attacked and Adrian Varley scored the point. Derry 0-2 Galway 0-4

19mins – Ryan Bell stopped a period of Galway dominance with a point off his supposedly weaker left foot.  Derry 0-3 Galway 0-7

28mins – Leading by four points Galway had a half chance for a goal.  Tom Flynn was again involved linking with Eamon Brannigan who despite having Liam Silke and Johnny Heaney as options for a possible goal, Brannigan opted for a point.  Derry 0-5 Galway 0-10

35mins – Despite being outplayed, Derry got themselves back into contention.  James Kielt made a spectacular catch, gave to Ciaran McFaul and he expertly passed to Ryan Bell and the Ballinderry man curled perfectly over with the outside of his right peg.  Derry 0-7 Galway 0-10

HALF TIME – Derry kept Galway waiting at the start of the 2^nd half as inside the dressing room they reorganised and addresses their first half failings.  Niall Holly came in at midfield, with Rogers dropping into his måore accustomed defensive role.

Brian McGuckin and Kevin Walsh indicated after the game that Galway’s first half dominance should have yielded more than a three point lead.

39mins – GOAL Any plans Derry had during the interval were scuppered when Adrian Varley took advantage of Johnny Heaney and Damien Comer’s approach work to fire home Galway’s goal.  This killed Derry’s chances of making a comeback.  Derry 0-7 Galway 1-11

43mins – Ciaran McFaul is central to Derry’s counter-attacking approach.  He also had setup two points for Ryan Bell.  He was dismissed for a black card for a trip.  Derry missed his influence. Derry 0-8 Galway 1-11

48mins – TALKING POINT Danny Heavron launched a long ball towards Mark Lynch in the penalty area.  After gaining possession and using his body to shield the ball, it looked like the Banagher man was fouled by Declan Kyne.

At the time it looked insignificant as Derry were at sea in many sectors but with only three points between the sides in the end, a penalty here could have changed the game.  Derry 0-8 to 1-13

66mins – GOAL Shane Heavron pumped a long delivery from the sideline towards his Magherafelt colleague Emmett McGuckin who got the deftest of touches ahead of Galway goalkeeper Manus Breathnach.  Derry 1-11 Galway 1-17

73mins – GOAL With time almost up Derry won possession from Breathnach’s kick out after Bell’s sixth point.  When the ball came to substitute Niall Loughlin, the Greenlough man calmly slotted to the net.  It put a bit more respectability on the scoreboard.  Derry 2-12 Galway 1-18

DERRY v GALWAY MATCH STATS

	Derry	Galway
SCORES	2-12	1-18
SCORES FROM PLAY	2-10	1-15
WIDES	14	9
DROPPED SHORT	3	1
MISSED GOALS	0	0
TOTAL MISSED	0-17	0-10
FREES WON INSIDE 45m	2	5
OWN KICKOUTS WON (CLEAN)	9	7
OWN KICKOUTS WON (BREAKS)	1	5
OWN KICKOUTS WON (SHORT)	10	3
OWN KICKOUTS LOST	9	8
% OWN KICKOUTS WON	69%	65%