Christy Ring Cup Q-Final – Kerry v Derry

Kerry moved into the semi-finals of the Christy Ring Cup for the first time ever on Saturday.

Kerry 4-21 Derry 2-12

From the GAA.ie web site

Kerry produced a brilliant second-half performance to brush aside the challenge of Derry in the Christy Ring Cup quarter-final in Mullingar on Saturday afternoon.

Shane Brick [pictured] scored 0-15 to lift the Kingdom to their first-ever Christy Ring Cup semi-final, where they will meet champions Carlow on Saturday, June 6.

John Mike Dooley scored three vital second-half goals – giving him four in total after his first-half effort – as Kerry took advantage of the strong breeze at their backs after the break.

Evan Sweeney had put Kerry ahead with a point from play after a pass from Shane Brick to give Kerry a 1-6 to 0-8 lead at the break.

However, Derry nudged ahead after the interval when Ruairi Convery emerged from a thicket of players to force the ball to the back of the net.

Kerry goalkeeper John Healy was injured in the incident and was forced off the field. Corner-forward Sean Young took over between the posts and Gary O’Brien came in to fill the void in the attack.

Derry then moved ahead when Malachy Scullion pulled on the ball one-handed for a fine goal that saw the Oak Leafers move into a 2-9 to 1-9 lead.

However, Shane Brick’s accuracy from frees and the re-introduction of James Godley swung the game back in Kerry’s favour before Dooley struck two trademark goals in as many minutes to put his side ahead.

Brick then fired an inspirational free from 100 metres out and followed it up with a ’65 to leave Kerry 3-14 to 2-11 ahead.

Jason Casey and Shane Brick added further scores as Kerry streaked ahead in the closing minutes.

Dooley then grabbed his fourth goal of the game when he booted the ball to the net at the death.

Dooley and Brick inspire Kingdom comeback

By Kerry 4-21 Derry 2-12

From the Irish Independent newspaper

Monday May 25 2009

Kerry reached their first Christy Ring Cup semi-final after blowing Derry’s challenge out of the water, with a final-quarter scoring blitz from their twin destroyers, Shane Brick and John Mike Dooley, in this quarter-final played at Mullingar on Saturday.

The scoreline does not tell the full story of this contest, however, because when Derry corner-forward Ruairi Convery sent a sideline cut over the bar in the 51st minute, Derry led 2-11 to 1-12 and looked the more likely side to progress.

Kerry began well and opened the scoring with a goal in the opening minute through Dooley. However, Derry gained the upper hand in midfield thanks to Kevin Hinphey and Oisin McCloskey and Kerry’s front men were heavily restricted for a spell.

Kerry went in 1-6 to 0-8 in front at the break and had a breeze at their backs for the second half, but got off to a terrible start when Convery netted from a rebound off John Healy’s fine save. Derry then pounced again when Michael Scullion flicked a McCloskey free to the net. Brick, though, kept Kerry in touch with some superb points as Derry led by two with 20 minutes left.

Then the introduction of James Godley for the Kingdom into the midfield with John Griffin seemed to ignite Kerry’s challenge and Dooley struck two goals in a minute, which stunned Derry.

Kerry were now rampant, with Brick on fire and scoring at will before Dooley scored his fourth goal late on to send a shocked Derry crashing out.

Scorers — Kerry: S Brick 0-15 (6f, 1 ’65), J M Dooley 4-0, E Sweeney 0-4, J Fitzgerald and J Casey 0-1 each Derry: R Convery 1-7 (5f), O McCloskey 0-5 (3 ’65, 2f), M Scullion 1-0.

Kerry — J Healy, P O’Grady, A Healy, J Godley, C Harris, T Murnane, J Griffin, E Sheehy, J Fitzgerald, E Sweeney, S Brick, J Casey, S Young, J McCarthy, J M Dooley Subs: M Hanafin for J Godley (inj) (34), G O’Brien for J Healy (inj) (38), J Godley for J Fitzgerald (50), S Maunsell for J McCarthy (66), P Monson for C Harris (70)

Derry — A McGill, R McCloskey, C Quinn, S McNicholl, P O’Kane, S McCullagh, M Craig, K Hinphey, O McCloskey, C Murphy, D Leahy, B Dodds, A Kelly, P McCloskey, R Convery Subs: M Scullion for P McCloskey (14), G O’Kane for M Scullion (45), P McCloskey for C Murphy (55), E McGukin for S McCullagh (65)

Ref — S Whelan (Wexford)