Donegal 1-15 Derry 0-12
An Odhrán Mac Niallais goal 17 minutes from time got the Rory Gallagher era off to a winning start as a powerful second-half display from Donegal dispatched Derry in their Division 1 clash at Ballybofey.
The visitors led by 0-09 to 0-06 at the break after Mark Lynch's masterclass, but they only kicked three points after the restart as Donegal, led by the masterful Christy Toye at midfield, steamrollered their visitors.
The hosts looked very leggy in the first half as five points in a nine-minute spell midway through the opening half saw Derry take total control.
Lynch was in fine form with five points before the break, but frees from Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty kept Donegal in touch.
McBrearty proved a real thorn in the Derry defence early on and he got his side off to a good start as they led by 0-03 to 0-01 by the ninth minute.
But Derry began to dominate around the middle of the field and they kicked five of the next six points and another three in a row before half-time to lead by three at the break.
But the introduction of Martin McElhinney at half-time turned the game on its head. He kicked a point in the 36th minute, set up another for Martin O'Reilly a minute later as Donegal began to gain the upper hand.
Murphy landed a free to level the game by the 44th minute, but as the teams began to swap scores, we looked destined for a tight finish.
But instead, Donegal found their form and made the decisive move for the winning start to their campaign.
They were handed a great chance to pull well clear when Niall Holly fouled Murphy, but the Donegal captain blasted the penalty off the crossbar with the scores level in the 50th minute.
However, three minutes later Toye sent Mac Niallais in for the crucial goal, which he blasted low past Thomas Mallon.
And with McBrearty in great form up front for Donegal, late points from Toye and Murphy saw Donegal cruise to the win as Derry ran out of steam.
Donegal: P Durcan; P McGrath, E McGee, F McGlynn; R McHugh, K Lacey, C McGinley; N Gallagher, C Toye (0-02); H McFadden, M McHugh, O Mac Niallais (1-00); P McBrearty (0-05, 0-02f), M Murphy (0-05, 0-05f), M O’Reilly (0-02).
Subs: D McLaughlin for McGinley (27 mins), M McElhinney (0-01) for McFadden (h-t), D O’Connor for McLaughlin (70), G McFadden for O'Reilly (71).
Derry: T Mallon; O Duffy, N Holly, J O’Kane; K Johnston, G O’Kane, M Craig; M Lynch (0-06, 0-05f), C McAtamney (0-01); B Heron (0-01), D Heavron, E Lynn (0-01); S L McGoldrick, E McGuckin (0-01), B McGoldrick (0-01).
Subs: B Og McGilligan for McAtamney (48 mins), L McGoldrick for Holly (54), E Bradley (0-01) for McGuckin (57), C McFaul for Heron (65), J Kearney for Lynn (70).
Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).
