Derry progressed to the semi-finals of the Dr McKenna Cup, beating Down 0-13 to 0-10 at Celtic Park, however, Mickey Harte's men had to work hard for their victory.
The home side were slow to get going and found themselves trailing Conor Laverty's outfit following early scores from James Guinness, Liam Kerr and Pat Havern
Derry replied with scores from Diarmuid Baker and Conor Doherty, however, midway through the half, the visitors increased the gap to five points thanks to Ceilium Doherty, Daniel Guinness and Odhran Murdock.
Derry remained in touch at the break thanks to two late points following a free from Shane McGuigan and a well-taken Paul Cassidy left-footed effort. Down led by 0-08 to 0-05 heading into the second half.
By the 41st minute, it was a one-point game with the momentum switching to the home side thanks to points from a McGuigan set-piece and a Chrissy McKaigue score, and while Down edged further ahead after a Jonny Flynn point, Derry were some on level terms thanks to another McGuigan free and player of the match Declan Cassidy's 48th-minute effort.
Derry finally took the lead for the first time in the contest in the 58th minute thanks to a Niall Loughlin free and it was the Greenlough forward who added another five minutes later to offer Harte's charges a modicum of breathing space.
Two late points from Doherty and Gareth McKinless added a bit of gloss to the final scoreline as Derry moved into the last four of this year's competition.
In Saturday's other evening game, Meath proved too strong for Louth in their Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup clash winning 2-13 to 1-07 in Ashbourne.
Louth were first on the scoreboard, but that was as good as it got for Ger Brennan's side who found themselves four down inside ten minutes thanks to early points from Jack Flynn and Matthew Costello and Aaron Lynch's ninth-minute goal.
Jack O'Connor's black card midway through the half allowed Louth to play their way back into the contest thanks to Dan Corcoran's 27th-minute goal.
There was only a point between the teams at the break, however, the home side took charge in the second half and opened a sizeable gap thanks to an early Costello penalty.
Louth did not respond until a 56th-minute score, however, by that stage Meath had added four further points to make it a seven-point game.
In the end, Meath ran out comfortable, nine-point winners as Brennan's first competitive game in charge of the Wee County ended in defeat.
Earlier in the same competiiton, Dublin had to stage a second-half fightback to secure a one-point victory over Offaly at Gracefield, the All-Ireland champions winning 0-11 to 0-10.
The experimental Dublin team found themselves up against it in the first half at the County Offaly venue as the hosts got their noses in front midway through the opening period and went on to enjoy a four-point lead at the break.
Points from Nigel Dunne, Dylan Hyland (3), Ruairi McNamee, and Kevin McDermott saw Offaly go in at half-time leading 0-06 to 0-02.
A string of substitutions at the break for the Dubs saw Evan Comerford, Senan Forker, Killian McGinnis and Ben Millist come on and the changes had the desired effect as the 14-man visitors - Peter Duffy was black carded in the 34th minute - worked their way back into the contest.
Killian McGinnis and Brian O'Leary scored two points apiece as the Dubs drew level in the 62nd minute.
Offaly, to their credit, looked to push on again and took the lead once more in the 65th minute thanks to a well-taken Cian Farrell free, however, the Dubs hit back with further points from Ethan Dunne, Brian O'Leary and namesake Shane.
Dublin held that two-point lead into the allocated four minutes of injury time, and while Offaly hit back with a late Farrell free, it was Dessie Farrell's side who would hold on for the win.
Afterwards, the Dubs boss confirmed that eight-time All-Ireland winner David Byrne will not be part of the set-up for the year.
The Naomh Ólaf clubman is set to go travelling. With Ryan Basquel retired, Farrell added that there have been no other retirements, so Stephen Cluxton, James McCarthy and Michael Fitzsimons could all be on board for a tilt at a tenth All-Ireland title.
Elsewhere in the Leinster pre-season competition, goals from Páraic Hughes, Ben Brosnan and Cian Hughes helped Wexford to a 3-09 to 0-14 victory over Kildare at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
All-square at the break, two second-half goals put Wexford in control of the contest and despite a late fightback from Kildare, the gap proved too big to bridge with the home side holding on for a four-point win.
In the other O'Byrne afternoon clash, Longford enjoyed a two-point win over Westmeath, winning 0-09 to 0-07 at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Paddy Christie's side will now face Meath in the next round.
Kerry continued their start to the year as they mean to go on, scoring six goals en route to hammering Limerick 6-18 to 0-11 in their McGrath Cup encounter at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.
Four early goals from Seán O' Shea and Conor Geaney, who both bagged a brace, put the result beyond doubt as the beaten All-Ireland finalists were 17 points clear after 24 minutes, leading 4-07 to 0-02.
The Kingdom added two further goals with Ronan Buckley and Darragh Roche hitting the back of the net as Jack O'Connor's side ran out 25-point winners.
The victory makes it two from two in their campaign following their similarly facile win over Tipperary during the week.
In the Connacht Hurling League final, New York enjoyed a 2-25 to 2-12 victory over Mayo at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome on Saturday evening.
