Free-scoring O'Connell shoots Kerry to victory

Derry 1-9 Kerry 3-13

Debutant Darragh O'Connell scored 2-4 for the Kerry hurlers as they opened their account in NHL Division 3A with a triumph over Derry at Celtic Park today.

Derry mounted a fightback when Oisin McCloskey netted from a 50th-minute penalty, but veteran attacker John Mike Dooley grabbed Kerry's second goal, four minutes later, and another from O'Connell sealed the result.

The visitors were 1-9 to 0-4 to the good at half-time, with O'Connell scoring his first goal in the 26th minute.

Paddy Henry (0-5) and Ruairi Convery (0-3) kept Derry in touch before Mickey Conway was brought down for the penalty which McCloskey did well to dispatch.

In a fiery finish, both sides had a player sent-off but it was Kerry who held their nerve to see out a pleasing first day win.