Derry's hurlers shook off a dogged challenge from London at Ruislip to record a 2-14 to 2-09 win and collect their first points of the 2007 Christy Ring Cup.
The Oak Leafers, who had a bye last weekend, prevailed in the Group 2B tie despite missing the considerable talents of Ruairi Convery, who is currently in America, and Liam Hinphey, who is on the bench for Derry's Ulster SFC semi-final clash with Monaghan tomorrow.
Having been beaten by 12 points by Wicklow last weekend, London proved more than a match for Derry in the first half.
Brendan Bolger's men were level with the visitors at 1-05 to 0-08 at the break.
But second half goals from wing forward Gareth O'Kane and corner-forward Sean McGoldrick were enough to guide Derry to victory.
Slaughtneil clubman O'Kane was particularly effective as he grabbed a personal haul of 1-5.
In today's Group 2B games, there were wins for Meath and Westmeath with the Royals' 2-23 to 1-10 success over Mayo shooting them to the top of the table on scoring difference.
John Andrews' charges had to overturn a first half deficit in Castlebar to claim their first win of the competition.
A Kevin Healy goal helped Mayo edge into a 1-07 to 2-03 lead, with captain Mick Cole and Stephen Clynch providing the majors for Meath.
But with Mayo missing broken wrist victim Keith Higgins, Meath strode clear and had a massive 16 points to spare by the finish.
Free-taker Cole offered a constant supply of scores while Tipperary native Eoin Brislane and the Kilmessan trio of Clynch, Ger O'Neill and Joey Keena also bulked up Meath's total.
Westmeath, who drew with Meath seven days ago, moved into second place in the table thanks to a 2-13 to 1-15 defeat of Down at Cusack Park.
In what was a repeat of the 2005 Ring Cup final, Westmeath motored into a 2-07 to 0-07 half-time lead with corner-forward Derek McNicholas and full-forward Dan Carty both finding the Mourne net.
Down mounted a comeback on the back of a Kieran Courtney goal, but the Lakesiders, who face Mayo and Kerry in the coming weeks, pulled through by the smallest of margins.
In tonight's Ring Cup Group 2B clash in Newbridge, Kildare emerged as 2-17 to 1-17 victors over Wicklow.
Helped by a man-of-the-match performance from centre back David Kennedy, the Lilywhites came from behind to secure their first win in the competition.
Wicklow, who accounted for London last weekend, led 0-12 to 1-6 at the interval but 16 minutes into the second half, Colm Buggy fired home a Kildare goal, levelling the game at 2-9 to 0-15.
Wicklow struck back with a major of their own from Jeffrey Bermingham in the 57th-minute, but Ben Dorney's home side dominated the closing stages to take the spoils.
David McConn's Roscommon side rocketed to the top of the Group 3C standings on the opening day of action in the 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup as they demolished Fermanagh in Athleague.
McConn's men, who lifted the National League Division Three title in April, were far too strong for the Ernesiders as they grabbed a 7-27 to 1-6 victory.
Athleague clubman Tom Reddington finished as the game's top scorer with 3-4, while Shane Sweeney (2-6) and Darragh Mulvey (2-1) also gobbled up any chances that came their way.
There were only four players on the scoresheet for Fermanagh - Stephen Smith raised their sole green flag with Ryan Bogue, Jason McManus and Peter Timoney contributing 0-2 apiece.
Longford got the better of Leitrim - winning by 2-12 to 1-12 - to take top spot in Group 3B tonight.
Noel Boyce's men fought back to take the win in Ballinamore after Leitrim had led by 0-08 to 0-04 at the break.
A goal from Joe O'Brien, early in the second half, nudged Leitrim into a seven-point lead and Longford looked in trouble.
Eoin Donnellan and Michael Burns then traded goals, but a burst of six points without reply from Longford proved telling as they hit the front.
In the closing minutes, a long-range free from Gareth Ghee managed to find its way to the Leitrim net and although the home side battled back to land the game's final two points, Longford held on to make a winning start to the campaign.
In Group 3D, Collins Connolly amassed a personal tally of 0-14 to guide Louth to a 1-22 to 3-8 victory over Warwickshire.
Aidan Carter batted home Louth's only goal of the game at Pairc na hÉireann as his side's avalanche of points did the trick.
Eddie McCarthy (0-3), Trevor Hilliard (0-2), David Murphy, Aidan Callan and David Dunne (0-1 each) were also off the mark for the Louth outfit.
Warwickshire came more into the game in the second period - Colm Hunter (2-2) and Martin Morrissey both raised green flags for the Exiles. The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Roger Casements clubman Stephen Gilmore who floated a superb sideline cut through the uprights.
Meanwhile in Group 3A today, Armagh beat hosts Sligo by 1-19 to 1-05 at Markievicz Park to continue the form, which saw them trouble Derry in last month's Ulster SHC semi-final.
