Derry withstand Wicklow charge

Derry 1-11 Wicklow 1-10

Opening the new pitch at the county’s Owenbeg centre of excellence, the Oak Leafers led by 1-4 to 0-4 at the break, the goal coming from Oisín McCloskey.

Wicklow were down to 14 by that stage after Gary Byrne picked up two yellows. Derry led by 1-8 to 0-5 heading into the final quarter but had to hold off the visitors’ late charge.

DERRY: D McDermott; M Warnock, P Kelly, J McCloskey; R McCloskey, L Hinphey, D McCloskey; C Convery, T McCloskey; B Rodgers, A Grant (0-4), K Hinphey; S Farren (0-5f), O McCloskey (1-1), P Henry

Subs: P Cleary (0-1) for Rodgers (63), N Ferris for Henry (63), Brendan Quigley for Farren (67)

WICKLOW: J Murphy; J Connors, B Osborne, B Cuddy; G Byrne, L Kennedy, E Dunne; S Kelly, R Keddy; S Kinsella, E Kearns, S Byrne; E Glynn (0-2) J O’Neill (0-3, 0-1f) M Lee (0-1)

Subs: A O’Brien (1-3, 1-0pen, 0-2f) for S Byrne (22), J Henderson (0-1) for Kinsella (31), C Moorhouse for M Lee (49)

Referee: O Elliott (Antrim).