Allianz Football League Division Two

DERRY 1-18 KILDARE 1-17

By Orla Bannon at Celtic Park

Derry snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with an injury-time goal from Emmett McGuckin securing a precious first Allianz League win of the season.

In the second minute of stoppage time, McGuckin followed in Ryan Bell's high ball into the square and the Derry forward fisted to the net.

It was the first dropped points of the season for Kildare after their wins over Meath and Cork, with just three points now separating top from bottom in a congested Divison Two.

James Kielt scored an impressive nine points, catching the strong wind perfectly in the second half to land some spectacular long-range scores.

With Daniel Flynn and Tommy Moolick influential early on, Kildare led by 1-10 to 0-8 at half time with eight different players on the scoresheet.

The sides were level four times in the opening quarter, but from six points each, the visitors stepped on the gas and hit 1-3 without reply in a lethal four-minute spell.

In what was his first League start, Chris Healy scored a great goal, taking Daniel Flynn's pass across goal and side-stepping the 'keeper to drill the ball into the top corner.

Derry, with just one league point on the board in Division Two, knew they had to win to avoid a relegation scrap and came out fighting after the break.

They reeled off seven points in a row inside 10 minutes to completely undo all Kildare's first-half efforts. Kielt was the star of the show with four of them, one an incredible effort from 60m, while Carlus McWilliams and Niall Loughlin also used the wind advantage to send over long-range points.

Kildare rallied with Niall Kelly pulling the strings along with two second-half points. They drew level twice in an exciting last quarter and hit four unanswered points to briefly take the lead in the 67th minute through Neil Flynn and Fergal Conway points.

It looked like Derry's challenge was fading after that strong second half, but there was still time for one moment of drama with McGuckin's opportunism snatching it for the Oak Leafers.

Scorers for Derry: James Kielt 0-9 (5fs), Emmett McGuckin 1-1, Carlus McWilliams 0-3, Niall Loughlin 0-2, Conor McAtamney, Enda Lynn, Danny Tallon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: Neil Flynn 0-5 (4fs), Niall Kelly, Daniel Flynn 0-3 each, Chris Healy 1-0, Fergal Conway 0-2, Johnny Byrne, Keith Cribbin, Kevin Feely, Tommy Moolick 0-1 each

DERRY: Conor McLarnon; Niall Keenan, Conor Nevin, Peter Hagan; Neil Forrester, Oisin Duffin, Michael McEvoy; James Kielt, Conor McAtamney; Enda Lynn, Emmett McGuckin, Carlus McWilliams; Danny Tallon, Niall Loughlin, Benny Heron

**Subs: **Oisin Hegarty for Hagan (23), Ryan Bell for Tallon (65), Mark Craig for Duffin (70), Gavin O'Neill for McWilliams (71).

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady, David Hyland, Ollie Lyons; Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Peter Kelly; Kevin Feely, Tommy Moolick; Fergal Conway, Niall Kelly, Keith Cribbin; Neil Flynn, Daniel Flynn, Chris Healy.

Subs: Cathal McNally for Cribbin (46), Eamonn Callaghan for Healy (57), Shea Ryan for Byrne (BC, 60), Ben McCormack for Moolick (61), Conor Hartley for Flynn (70).

REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).