NHL Division One B/Cork ... 6-19 Derry ... 1-5: Eoin Fitzgerald capped an impressive performance for Cork with a couple of late goals for a final haul of 2-8 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. It was Cork's third win on the bounce and should ensure their place in the next phase of the competition.
The home side enjoyed a strong wind at their backs in the first-half and they duly made it count, leading by 2-14 to 0-3 at the interval as Fitzgerald pointed a free after 30 seconds.
Ben O'Connor claimed the opening goal after seven minutes, following a Mickey O'Connell pass intended for Alan Browne which fell kindly for the corner-forward. Browne netted the second after 26 minutes. Derry captain Oliver Collins was yellow carded for a challenge on Pat Mulcahy and Ronan Curran's free was driven to the net for the first of Browne's brace. Seanie McGrath scored four points in a row before half-time.
Despite facing the wind on the resumption Cork still dominated, grabbing two quick goals. McGrath picked out Browne and the skipper duly slammed home his side's third goal. A surging run from substitute Neil Ronan set up another substitute Setanta Ó hAilpín for a fourth, leaving Cork 4-14 to 0-4 clear after 48 minutes. Within a minute Derry corner-forward Enda Cushnahan kicked home his team's only goal following a close range scramble.
Fitzgerald scored three points before crowning his display with those late goals. He doubled the sliotar to the net from 12 metres, two minutes from the end, and then batted in his second after goalkeeper Kieran Stephenson did well to stop his initial effort moments later.
CORK: P Morrissey; W Sherlock, P Mulcahy, B Murphy; A Cummins, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; M O'Connell (0-3), J Barrett (0-1); N McCarthy, M Morrissey (0-1), E Fitzgerald (2-8); B O'Connor (1-0), A Brown (2-1), S McGrath (0-4). Subs: S Ó hAilpín (1-0) for O'Connor, N Ronan (0-1) for McCarthy, K Murphy for McGrath, M Prendergast for Sherlock, J O'Connor for O'Connell.
DERRY: K Stephenson; P McVeigh, G Bruton, K Humphrey; A McCluskey, D Magill, P O'Kane; O Collins (0-3), P Murphy; P Curtin (0-1), M Conway, R Convery; S McGlove (0-1), R Kennedy, E Cushnahan (1-0). Subs: A McCrystal for McGlove, M Collins for Curtin, McGlove for McCluskey.
Referee: P Moore (Waterford).
