Derry are now just one point away from the top tier but more than the two crucial points earned against Dublin, Rory Gallagher will remember this game for providing the early season test his team needed.
The reigning Ulster champions have been making light work of opponents in Division 2 this year, but on Saturday evening in Celtic Park they met their match in an opponent hell-bent on changing the narrative around their own unbeaten start to the season.
And for 35 minutes it looked like Dessie Farrell's side were on course for the statement win observers felt they needed, only for a spirited Derry comeback to leave the Oakleafers top of the table.
Gallagher admitted Dublin were excellent in the first half, but he suggested that his own side allowed the Leinster men to show their wares.
"We stood off Dublin far too much. I thought they were brilliant in the first half. We didn't bring any intensity or hunger. You can talk all you like about tactics but if you have got to bring them. If you don't bring them you're in trouble," he told RTÉ Sport after the 1-11 to 0-13 win.
"We played within ourselves, we didn't rise to the occasion. We were far too cautious with and without the ball, on our own kick-outs and pressing on theirs. Everything," he added.
"We were just standoffish. We were playing a better quality of opponent, who was really, really up for it, who had a very clear plan with the ball. We hadn't been in a battle like that and it was good to be in a battle like that. I think Dublin will be the better for it too."
The introduction of Gareth McKinless after the break was a turning point, as was the performance of Brendan Rogers, and together they helped drag the home side back into a contest, which they never led before the closing minutes.
"We needed three points out of the last six points, now we need one, so we'll look forward to Clare in two weeks," said Gallagher, when asked if he was now happy to rotate his small squad for Derry's remaining games.
"We're not promoted yet."
'It was good to get a battle like that'
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 4, 2023
Rory Gallagher was unhappy with his 'standoffish' Derry team in the first half but delighted with the response
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Player of the match Rogers suggested Derry are motivated to not just gain promotion to Division 1 but go at least one stage further in the championship, after last year's semi-final defeat to Galway.
"We have to learn hard lessons from last year. We didn't perform in Croke Park on the big day and we have to live with that and improve on it. Every day we go out we have to go out and try and right those wrongs and get ourselves in that position again."
Player of the match Brendan Rogers talks about Derry's desire to right some wrongs from last year
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 4, 2023
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For Dublin boss Farrell there were lots of positives, even if he admitted losing a game that they controlled at half-time was disappointing.
"It was a great game for us to get, a great challenge. We'll learn a lot from this," he said, echoing Gallagher's sentiments.
"I think we're making good progress. It's never linear. There was a little bit of a setback tonight, given where we were at half-time. but they're the type of challenges you want."
Dessie Farrell saw lots of positives in his Dublin team's performance, even if the result, ultimately, was disappointing
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 4, 2023
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