Encouraging start for Derry

NFL DIVISION TWO: Derry 1-11 Tyrone 0-13: NEW DERRY boss John Brennan made it five wins from five outings as his side withstood…

NFL DIVISION TWO: Derry 1-11 Tyrone 0-13:NEW DERRY boss John Brennan made it five wins from five outings as his side withstood a spirited Tyrone comeback at Celtic Park.

The Oak Leafers were relieved to hear the final whistle as Seán Cavanagh and Martin Penrose whittled their four-point advantage down to the minimum.

Earlier, Seán Leo McGoldrick pounced to hammer home a second-minute goal for Derry.

PJ McCloskey, Conleith Gilligan and Ciarán McGoldrick pointed for Derry while Damian McCaul and Seán Cavanagh replied for Tyrone. But McGoldrick and Paddy Bradley added three late scores to help Derry lead 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.

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Brian McGuigan, Penrose (two), Aidan Cassidy and McGinley saw Tyrone close the gap to 0-10 to 1-8, but points from substitutes Emmett McGuckian (two) and Caileann O’Boyle helped Derry edge home.

DERRY:D Devlin; B McCallion, K McCloy, D McBride; C Kielt, B McGoldrick, G O'Kane; P J McCloskey (0-1), J Conway; D Mullan, SL McGoldrick (1-2), M Lynch; C McGoldrick (0-1), P Bradley (0-3), C Gilligan (0-1, free). Subs: C O'Boyle (0-1) for Gilligan (45); N Holly for Mullan (50); E McGuckian (0-2) for Lynch (53); M Donaghy for Conway (63); B Doyle for C McGoldrick (70).

TYRONE:J Curran; D Carlin, C McCarron, D McCaul (0-1); P J Quinn, C Gormley, R McMenamin (0-1); K Hughes, A Cassidy (0-1); P Harte, B McGuigan (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-4, two frees); M Penrose (0-4, three frees), S O'Neill, E McGinley (0-1). Subs: S O'Neill for Gormley (26); N McKenna for Quinn (half-time); M Swift for Cassidy (58).

Referee:M Duffy (Sligo).