Derry put in an excellent display as they pushed aside the weak challenge of Longford in their opening game of the Allianz Football League Division 3 North.
All over the field Derry impressed with Conor Glass superb in the middle of the field; dictating play throughout.
It wasn't a game for the purists. Derry defended in numbers; at one stage everyone was in their own half but they also broke with plenty of options.
Darren Gallagher opened the scoring with a pointed free before Conor Glass levelled for Derry with an excellent point and that was followed by points from Shane McGuigan (free) and Niall Loughlin. Daniel Mimnagh replied for Longford before Derry took control.
Glass restored their two-point advantage and a McGuigan free put three between the sides on 20 minutes. Longford hit two poor wides when they needed scores in a performance that was littered by mistakes which Derry took advantage of.
Another Loughlin free stretched the Oak Leaf County’s lead before they created a goal chance with Longford keeper Paddy Collum making a fine save and a scramble led to '45 which Loughlin pointed. McGuigan fired over a free in stoppage time to give them a six-point advantage at the break.
It was seven points at the start of the second half before Longford were dealt a blow when David McGivney received a black card. With numerical advantage Derry kept the scoreboard ticking.
Emmet Bradley, Loughlin (free) and Padraig Cassidy put 10 between the sides in the 45th minute. Longford’s first point of the second half came in the 52nd minute through Larry Moran but at that stage the lead was 12.
Longford’s best player Gallagher hit over two more points for his side but Derry ended the game with points from Bradley, McGuigan (free), Loughlin (free) and sub Ben McCarron to give them a 16-point win.
Derry: Ohdrán Lynch; Christopher McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Padraig McGrogan; Padraig Cassidy (0-1), Gareth McKinless, Conor Doherty; Conor Glass (0-2), Emmett Bradley (0-3); Ethan Doherty, Niall Loughlin (0-6,0-4frees, 0-2’45), Ciaran McFaul (0-1); Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan (0-7,0-5frees) Paul Cassidy.
Subs: Oisin McWilliams for Paul Cassidy (50), Paul McNeill for McKinless (59), Jack Doherty for Heron (61), Michael McEvoy for C Doherty (65), Ben McCarron (0-1) for E Doherty and Conleth McShane for Padraig Cassidy (67)
Longford: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Colm P. Smyth; Dessie Reynolds, Gary Rogers, Daniel Mimnagh (0-1); David McGivney, Kevin Diffley; Darren Gallagher (0-3,0-1free), Rian Brady, Michael Quinn; Robbie Smyth, Liam Connerton, Oran Kenny.
Subs: Peter Lynn for Reynolds and Barry McKeon for Diffley (ht), Joseph Hagan for Kenny (45), Larry Moran (0-1) for R Smyth, Iarla O’Sullivan for Brady, Darragh Doherty for Connerton (52), Gerard Flynn for Mimnagh (61)
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
