Dublin rue missed chances

Dublin 1-12 Derry 0-20

The Bradley brothers demolished a misfiring Dublin side to pick up a handsome NFL victory today at Parnell Park.

Paddy kicked four points before going off injured at half-time, but younger brother Eoin picked up the tempo, with a succession of brilliant scores to condemn Pat Gilroy’s struggling side to a third defeat in four outings.

Derry should have had a grater margin of victory, such was their dominance, particularly in the second half, with Dublin’s goal coming five minutes from the end through centre back Ger Brennan.

Bernard Brogan was Dublin’s chief scoring threat, adding four points to efforts from Diarmuid Connolly, Conal Keaney and Blaine Kelly.

Paul Murphy drilled over a couple of scores, and Enda Muldoon had already converted a ‘45’ when his free put three points between the sides just before half-time, before Brogan narrowed the gap.

Derry could also have had a couple of goals, but Stephen Cluxton saved superbly from Doherty and Paddy Andrews cleared a Bradley effort off the line. The visitors’ goalkeeper John Deighan was earlier called into action to keep out a Keaney shot.

At the break Derry led by 0-9 to 0-7 and despite losing ace attacker Bradley with concussion, stretched the lead to seven early in the second period as huge gaps opened up in the Dubs defence.

Eoin Bradley took over the scoring duties from his older brother with a couple of gems from wide on the left.

Dublin had lost all their fluency, and Cluxton again saved them from further punishment with saves from Enda Lynn and Eoin Bradley.

Five in a row from the rampant Bradley provoked just token response, with Keaney bringing his tally to three and substitute Alan Brogan also finding the target.

And with five minutes to play, Keaney’s quickly taken free sent centre back Ger Brennan in to blast home a goal.

But it came to late to save the sorry Dubs from slipping into what could become a desperate battle to avoid relegation.

Dublin: S Cluxton; P Andrews, D Bastick, A Hubbard; J Brogan, G Brennan (1-0), B Cahill; C Whelan, R McConnell; D Connolly (0-1), C Keaney (0-3), D Henry; B Kelly (0-2), K Bonner, B Brogan (0-4, 2f).

Subs: A Brogan (0-1) for Bonner (31), S Ryan for McConnell (43), B Cullen for Connolly (46), D Lally for J Brogan (50), P Conlon for Hubbard (59)

Derry: J Deighan, K McGuckian, N McCusker, S M Lockhart, P Cartin, B McGoldrick (0-1), S L McGoldrick, F Doherty, E Muldoon (0-3, 2’45’, 1f), E Lynn, P Murphy (0-3), B Mullan (0-1), Paddy Bradley (0-4, 3f), E Bradley (0-6, 3f), B McGuigan (0-2.

Subs: Paul Bradley for Paddy Bradley, G O’Kane for Cartin (h-t), J Diver for Muldoon (45), Patsy Bradley for Doherty (53) E Brown for Murphy (yellow card, 57)

Referee: J Bannon.