Allianz FL D2: Derry finish strongly

Allianz Football League Division Two

Derry 1-15 Tyrone 1-12

By Michael Wilson at Celtic Park

Derry scored an excellent first league victory of the season thanks to a superb final 10 minutes and a heroic late Paudie McGrogan block as Tyrone were denied in the dying stages for a second week in succession

The victory moves Ciaran Meenagh's men above their old rivals in the early season table as two late Shane McGuigan points and one from substitute Conor McAteer ensured a fully deserved Oak Leaf win that could have been more substantial had they taken more of their chances.

Meenagh was able to welcome back Lachlan Murray as one of two changes from the 15 that started in Croke Park against Meath seven days ago, the second being Matthew Downey who was rewarded with a start following his impressive cameo off the bench against The Royals.

Malachy O'Rourke, meanwhile, back in the venue where he'd won three Derry county titles, made four changes to the 15 that started the draw against Kildare, Darragh Canavan, Conor O'Neill, Brian Kennedy and Eoin McElholm the men to come in for a fixture in which both counties were seeking a morale boosting first win.

It was the home team who struck first blood through early points from Conor Doherty and Murray as Derry went two up inside the opening minute of a half that swung from one end to the other.

Mattie Donnelly got Tyrone on the scoreboard two minutes in and the chances kept coming as Murray's run inside from the left wing almost brought the game's opening goal just three minutes in, Downey just unable to stretch high enough to turn his centre into the net rather than over the bar.

Ethan Jordan, fresh from his 1-09 in Healy Park, started his the clock running on this week's tally with a fifth minute free that was quickly cancelled out by Glass, only for Jordan once again split the posts, this time from a '45' to leave it 0-4 to 0-3 12 minutes in.

A Murray free edged Derry two up once more, but Tyrone were level just short of 20 minutes when another Jordan free was followed by a Ben Cullen point that should have been wiped out after Niall Morgan's fetch on the kick-out meant a Red Hands breach that was missed by the officials.

Niall Loughlin was the next Oak Leaf player on target, but Tyrone hit the front for the first time when Conor O'Neill's picked the perfect time to register the game's first two-pointer for 0-7 to 0-6.

Brendan Rogers became the sixth Derry scorer to make it 0-8 to 0-7 and better followed when Conor Doherty's superb high catch on the kick-out, his third of the half led to Ethan Doherty sending Glass through the middle. The Derry captain had plenty to do but produced a sublime finish into Niall Morgan's top corner for 1-7 to 0-8.

That should have been the cue for an Oak Leaf half-time lead, but instead Derry fell asleep on a 33rd minutes free Ethan Jordan alert enough to look up and pick out Ciaran Daly who produced a finish that was the equal of Glass' which found the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Still the drama wasn't over, as before the game could restart, Roscommon referee Paddy Neilan's attention was dragged to the opposite end of the pitch where he produced a black card for Murray following an off the ball incident, meaning Derry would start the second half one point, and one man down at 1-8 to 1-7.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, it was Derry who controlled the opening stages of the second half, Shane McGuigan's first score of the day levelling things four minutes after the restart .

Indeed, it looked like Tyrone would fail to register a shot during Murray's absence until, with seconds remaining until his return, Michael McKernan unleashed a two-pointer which took Tyrone 1-10 to 1-8 in front.

That lead was wiped out by two Shane McGuigan's frees, though the Slaughtneil star also passed up an simple third point from play before Eoin McElholm's first of the day handed Tyrone the lead for the fourth time in the game with 50 minutes gone.

Derry needed inspiration and found it from the boot of Brendan Rogers whose huge two point effort had Derry in front from the first time in 24 minutes at 1-12 to 1-11, that after both Paul Cassidy and Lachlan Murray had passed up goal chances.

Again a Jordan free levelled and Celtic Park held it's breath, awaiting which county would blink first.

A McGuigan free and Conor McAteer's lovely effort with his first touch handed Derry the lead heading up finishing straight, a position consolidated by McGuigan's first from play to put Derry 1-15 to 1-12 up with five to go.

A series of wides meant left Tyrone needing a goal and they almost got it when Matthew Og McGleenan engineered himself a yard in front of the posts with one minute left, only for Padraig McGrogan's heroic block to secure a win which was Derry's first in league football since the Divsion One final of 2024.

Scorers for Derry: Conor Glass 1-1, Conor Doherty 0-2, Lachlan Murray 0-2 (1f), Matthew Downey 0-1, Niall Loughlin 0-1, Brendan Rogers 0-3 (1tp), Shane McGuigan 0-4 (3f), Conor McAteer 0-1,

Scorers for Tyrone: Ciaran Daly 1-0, Mattie Donnelly 0-1, Ethan Jordan 0-4 (3f, 1 '45'), Ben Cullen 0-1, Conor O'Neill 0-2 (1tp), Darragh Canavan 0-1, Michael McKernan 0-2, (1tp), Eoin McElholm 0-1,

Derry: Shea McGuckin, Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Conor McCluskey Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty, Matthew Downey, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Niall Toner for M Downey, 47mins; Conor McAteer for N Loughlin, 58mins; Sean Young for L Murray, 62mins; Jack Doherty for P Cassidy, 67mins.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan, Cormac Quinn, Aidan Clarke, Joey Clarke, Ben Cullen, Michael McKernan, Ronan Cassidy, Brian Kennedy, Conor O'Neill, Darragh Canavan, Conn Kilpatrick, Ciaran Daly, Eoin McElholm, Mattie Donnelly, Ethan Jordan.

Subs: Peter Teague for B Kennedy, 53mins; Matthew Og McGleenan for C O'Neill, 55mins; Lorcan McGarrity for E Jordan, 60mins; Brian Burns for M McKernan, 62mins.

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).