NFL DIVISION TWO Derry 1-18 Antrim 0-13:IT WAS a bitter-sweet day for Derry yesterday. They did what they had to do by winning but it wasn't enough to gain promotion.

Derry led at the break by 1-7 to 0-4 with centre forward Caolan O’Boyle blasting the ball home from close range on 19 minutes.

Corner-back Michael Bateson and half-back Gerard O’Kane both scored for Derry while Paddy Bradley Conleth Gilligan, Mark Lynch, and Eoin Bradley all rifled over points.

Antrim’s efforts weren’t helped by the dismissal of Mark Sweeney on a second yellow card after 20 minutes. Tomás McCann and Paddy Cunningham pointed but there was never a danger of the Saffrons winning as they slid back to Division Three. Conleth Gilligan and Aaron Douglas were both sent off in the final seconds.

DERRY: M Conlon; M Bateson (0-1), K McCloy, D McBride; G O'Kane (0-3), B McGoldrick, M Donaghy; PJ McCloskey, M Friel; M Lynch (0-1), C OBoyle (1-1), C Kielt; SL McGoldrick, P Bradley (0-5), C Gilligan (0-6). Subs: C McGoldrick for Donaghy (43 mins), E Bradley for Friel (56 mins), L Moore for OBoyle (57 mins), J O'Kane for McCloy (61 mins), D Mullan for Lynch (65 mins).

ANTRIM: C Kerr; K O'Boyle, R Johnston, M Johnston; C Brady, A Healy, C Murray; S Burke; A Gallagher (0-2); T O'Neill (0-1), K Brady, M Sweeney; P Cunningham (0-4, 3f), T McCann (0-4), B Neeson. Subs: S Finch for Neeson (25 mins), D Edwards for Burke (41 mins), M Armstrong (0-1) for O'Neill (47 mins), M Dougan (0-1) for Brady (5 1mins), Douglas for O'Boyle (55 mins).

Referee: P Hughes(Armagh).