London just need to beat recent nemesis Derry to reach Christy Ring final after win over Wicklow

Victory over Derry in two weeks will mean London can look forward to a first Croke Park final appearance for six years.

All things then become possible, meaning a first Christy Ring title since 2012 and the first piece of silverware of any kind since Div 2B league success in 2013.

But Derry have been London’s nemesis in recent times – they’ve won the sides’ last four meetings – and it will be no mean achievement if the Exiles emerge from Owenbeg on 11 May with the victory they need.

But buoyed by wins over Tyrone, Sligo and Wicklow, Rogers’ charges will set sail believing they can get the job done – and make their round five fixture against Kildare at Ruislip a possible dress rehearsal for the final.

Rogers will be delighted with how his players – rapidly developing a reputation as a second-half team – stuck to the task against a Wicklow side, which made a mockery of the fact that they are still without a victory in 2024.

Indeed, Jonathan O’Neill’s team can feel hard done by at the final margin of their defeat. This was never a 12-point game.

Slim consultation, no doubt, but with ten minutes of normal time to go, the London lead was a precarious 1-13 to 0-13 and the outcome very much in the balance.

The Exiles duly outscored their opponents by 1-7 to 0-1 in the time that remained to maintain their place at the top of the table.

Perhaps most pleasing for London’s manager will be that this was not the Jack Goulding-Sean Glynn show of recent weeks.

Sean O’Meara and Owen Shiel both had strong claims for player of the match, while there were also good showings from the likes of Robbie Murphy, Tom Millerick, Dylan Dawson, Conor Byrne, Kevin Reid and Adam Cunney, while Ronan Crowley is most definitely back.

It was Crowley’s goal, just 46 seconds into the second half, which set up London’s victory after a hungry Wicklow had given the home side plenty to ponder in the opening quarter.

A more assured second quarter from the home side had seen them edge it at the break (0-8 to 0-7).

Crowley’s low shot to the far corner of Conor McNally’s net in the 36th minute made it a four-point lead.

But it wasn’t until Goulding landed a 72nd-minute free that Rogers’ men could finally breathe easy, as it took London’s lead to more than two goals (1-18 to 0-14).

Reid’s even later goal was the icing on the home team’s cake.

London: Tommy Wallace; Padraig Muldoon, Conor Byrne, Niall Geoghegan; Tom Millerick 0-1, Sean O’Meara, Cathal O’Carroll; Adam Cunney 0-1, Robbie Murphy; Owen Sheil 0-6, Sean Glynn 0-2, Kevin Reid 1-1; Dylan Dawson, Jack Goulding 0-7 (6f), Ronan Crowley 1-1. Subs: Eoghan McHugh for Dawson (56min), Paul Kennedy for Crowley (63min), Niall Broderick 0-1 for Cunney (67min), Stephen Whelan for Millerick (68min), Malcolm Flannery for Reid (70+3min).

Wicklow: Conor McNally 0-1f; Dylan Byrne, Brian Kearney, Ben Kearney; Tommy Collins, Padráig Doran 0-1, Seanie Germaine 0-6 (5f); Cian Lohan 0-1, Brandan Ryan; Rian Waters, Ronan McMahon, Luke Maloney 0-1; Luke Evans, Gary Hughes, David Maloney 0-2. Subs: Eoin McCormack for McMahon (32min), Dan Redmond 0-1 for Hughes (32min), Torna Mulcrony 0-1 for Waters (50min), James McGing for Ryan (67min), Jack O’Toole for Luke Maloney (68min).

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry).