Nicholl’s side battle hard to keep cup dreams alive

The game at the weekend was never going to be a walk in the park for Mark Nicholl’s side as the Gannon men were hurting from their 76-0 Ulster League defeat at Judges Road seven days earlier.

Dungannon coach Paddy Johns made eight changes to his team for Saturday with a completely new back row and James Bates coming in at scrum half and Club President the experienced Paul Magee coming into the centre.

The home side started the game with some intent bringing physicality to their play especially at the breakdown that was missing the previous weekend.

The early pressure and territory was all in Gannon’s favour and they were rewarded with a penalty after five minutes, Chris Henderson converted from 20 metres in front of the posts.

Derry eventually overcame the initial Dugannon onslaught and the last 20 minutes of the first half saw them play the game in the home side’s half. Derry were dominating the scrums with Stephen Jefferson, Cathal Creggan and Sam Duffy a solid front row well supported by David Houston and Chris Cooper in the line outs.

Stephen Corr, man of the match Richard Baird and Johnny Lyons were now carrying ball at every opportunity and with Dungannon infringing the penalty count was 30 to 5 for Derry at half-time, they lost Paul Jackson to the sin bin on the stroke of half-time which saw Dungannon leading 3-0.

The weather deteriorated at the break with heavy incessant rain throughout the second half and a good breeze in Derry’s favour. In fact Dungannon only got out of their own half right at the death.

The Judges Road men threw everything at Dungannon with Adam Bratton, captain David Funston and Chris Barber carrying ball straight through the middle on numerous occasions but the Gannon defence held firm. Derry brought on David Ferguson at Hooker and Stephen Ferguson to the back row and their presence increased the Derry attacking options as half backs Andrew Semple and Neil Burns controlled the game.

The tackle count from Dungannon was mounting as Derry tried to punch a hole in the middle of the home defence and the Judges Road men were drawn into an arm wrestle.

Derry were one dimensional in their attacking as they were lacking the know how and direction to vary their play with a kicking option or moving the play to the wide channels.

Derry finally scored from pressure with three scrums in a row on 60 minutes and eventually a No 8 pickup produced ball for Andrew Semple to find Simon Logue out on the left to run in unchallenged to touch down for a try and with Neil Burns kicking a great conversion, the visitors were deservedly 7-3 in front.

It looked like the floodgates would open at this stage of the game and a 30 point beating of Dungannon was on the cards but with the weather deteriorating and a never say die attitude from the home team, further scoring was not possible.

The Stevenson Park out-fit lost another man to the sin bin after 68 minutes but Derry were happy to camp in the Dungannon half and see the game out as Dungannon never posed a threat and they spent the second half fire fighting to even stay in the game.

Mark Nicholl will be happy with this physical challenge as he prepares his charges for another two games in the All Ireland League over the next few weekends, starting this Saturday against unbeaten Naas, at Judges Road (KO 2.30pm).

City of Derry: Chris Barber, Simon Logue, David Funston, Adam Bratton, Josh Lewis, Burns, Andrew Semple, Stephen Jefferson, Cathal Cregan, Sam Duffy, Houston, Chris Cooper, Stephen Corr, Jonny Lyons, Richard Baird. Replacements: David Ferguson, Chris Shields, Stephen Ferguson, Adam Parke, Ryan Campbell.