The senior hurlers failed in their promotion/relegation play off against Na Magha at Dunsilly going down by a goal.
It was Na Magha who were on the scoreboard first, with a brace of points, one from play and the other a well executed free but a Don Whelan pointed free and a nicely worked point from Jay Maguire, following a nice lay off from Anthony Rowntree levelled the game after 4 mins. However 4 successive points, all from play, from the Derry men put them in a commanding position. We showed our resolve and worked our way back into the game, reeling off the next 5 points, courtesy of D Whelan (0-2, 0-1f and 0-1 65, Marcas Toner and Jay Maguire (0-2) to take the lead for the first time after 23 minutes. The sides were level again when Na Magha pointed from play but a Don Whelan long range pointed free on the half time whistle gave us the minimum advantage at the break 0-8 to 0-7.
We doubled our advantage straight from the throw in when Colm McKee gained possession and struck a crisp shot over the bar but Na Magha rallied scoring the next three points, the pick of them coming from a well worked delivery into the corner and when the sliotar was fed out to the 21 yard line the on-running forward took possession and executed a nice finish. Don Whelan responded with a point from 30 yards and both teams then went through a scoring phase when there was never more than 2 points between the sides and after 50 minutes Na Magha held that 2 point advantage (our scores coming from Stephen McGivern and Don Whelan (0-2, 1f). Na Magha reeled of the next 3 points to put them in a commanding position but a great effort from Marcas Toner from out on the left 4 in it. Both teams traded points from 65s with Don Whelan on target but two Na Magha points opened up a 2 goal advantage. With time running out we ushed to get back in the game and a Colm Mckee goal put things in the melting pot but depsite our best endevours the Derry held firm to see the game out and take the win 0-21 to 1-15.
Scorers: Don Whelan 0-8, Jay Maguire 0-3, Colm McKee 1-1, Marcas Toner 0-2 and Stephen McGivern 0-1
Click here for photos of the game.
