Two weeks ago Derry travelled to Letterkenny and had 20 points to spare over Donegal in a relegation shoot-out, but their winning margin was just four points – 1-21 to 1-17 - on home turf in this Christy Ring Ulster derby.
It looked like it would be another one of those days for Donegal as Christy McNaughton opened the scoring with a second-minute goal, but goalkeeper Luke White levelled matters from the penalty spot a minute later.
Donegal actually led at the break, 1-09 to 1-08, with Sean McVeigh, Liam McKinney and Declan Coulter amongst their scorers, but McNaughton, who would finish with 1-09 to his name, ensured that the Oakleaf County would retake the lead and build up enough of a buffer to claim two opening-day points.
There was no such scare for London as they defeated Meath 5-18 to 0-21 in St Loman's.
The Royals started with scores from Lorcan Byrne and Jack Regan, but London had four goals on board by the break with Paul Kennedy (2), Conor O’Carroll and Jack Morrissey on target to help them into a 12-point lead.
Any hopes of a comeback felt remote, and they were extinguished in the 39th minute as Morrissey, who also landed five points, grabbed his second major.
Wicklow may have played a division below Tyrone this year, but they recorded a fine 1-24 to 2-16 win in Aughrim.
The Garden County bloomed early with Jack Doyle and Padraig Doyle keeping the scoreboard ticking over as they led 0-08 to 0-02 early on.
Aidy Kelly brought Tyrone back into it with a series of scores but Padraig Doyle’s goal late in the half left Wicklow side ahead at the break, 1-12 to 0-09.
Wicklow’s lead was nine points with 15 minutes remaining and although goals from Kiefer Morgan and Kelly brought the Ulster side within three, Wicklow were able to see it out.
In the Nicky Rackard Cup, Mayo had to fight back to overcome the challenge of local rivals Roscommon at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
The Green and Red prevailed on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-14, despite trailing by five points early in the second half after a goal from Roscommon midfielder Ben McGahon.
The dead ball reliability of Shane Boland kept the home side in touch before Cormac Phillips found the net in the 62nd minute to ease the nerves of the Mayo faithful.
Elsewhere Sligo withstood a third quarter rally from Louth to win 0-20 to 0-15 at Markievicz Park.
With Andrew Kilcullen leading the way, the home side lead by eight at half-time, 0-13 to 0-05, but the visitors rallied after the break before Sligo secured the win.
There were wins for Monaghan and Longford in the Lory Meagher Cup, with the Ulster side getting the best of Leitrim, 2-13 to 0-09, in Inniskeen. The Midlanders raised four green flags in Abbotstown, beating Lancashire 4-21 to 0-16.
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