Division One B/Derry 0-11 Kildare 0-9: Derry made it three wins out three with a gritty victory over a battling Kildare outfit at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon.

In a game that rarely sparkled, it was Derry's superior cutting edge which proved decisive, while Kildare enjoyed as much possession as the hosts they didn't carry the inside threat which the Bradley brothers, Eoin and Paddy, gave the winners.

The two Glenullin men accounted for eight of Derry's tally final tally of 11 points and their ability to score from play proved crucial in a game where - for the most part - defences reigned supreme.

Derry started the brighter and were 0-3 to no score in front by the 13th minute with Enda Muldoon getting them off the mark from a 45 and the Bradleys both notching early scores from play.

Kildare got on the scoreboard in the 18th minute thanks to Tadhg Fennin free, and although Eoin Bradley restored Derry's cushion with a point off his right foot, two more Fennin frees and points from Karl Ennis and David Lyons saw Kildare move 0-5 to 0-4 in front by the 25th minute.

However, an injury-time free from Muldoon after a foul on Paddy Bradley ensured the sides went in level at the break.

On the resumption, Kildare edged ahead again through a Fennin free, but Muldoon replied in kind, pointing from a free after John Divilly was sent off for second yellow card after hauling down Paddy Bradley.

A point from Killian Brennan saw the visitors edge in front again, but a Paddy Bradley free made it level at 0-7 apiece. The hosts then had a purple patch as Eoin Bradley hit a score and elder brother Paddy pointed twice from play for a 0-10 to 0-7 lead.

Fennin's fifth free saw Kildare narrow the gap to two points and when Dermot Earley managed to get a fist to Killian Brennan's long ball and flick it over the bar the margin was down to one.

Paddy Bradley pointed a free to give Derry a two points cushion on 56 minutes and, thereafter, Kildare could find no way through the Derry defence.

DERRY: B Gillis; F McEldowney, K McCloy, G O'Kane; P Carton, J McBride, L Hinphey; J Diver, Patsy Bradley; J O'Kane, E Muldoon (0-3, two frees, one 45), F Doherty; M Donaghy, Paddy Bradley (0-5, two frees), E Bradley (0-3). Subs: B McGoldrick for J O'Kane (35 mins), M Lynch for Donaghy, (53 mins) G Diamond for Diver (66 mins), J Kelly for Paddy Bradley (70 mins), F Crossan for Carton (70 mins).

KILDARE: E Murphy; A McLoughlin, K O'Neill, M Hogarty; P Mullarkey, G Ryan, D Lyons (0-1); D Earley (0-1), K Brennan (0-1); K Ennis (0-1), J Divilly, J Doyle; T Fennin (0-5, all frees), R Sweeney, E Callaghan. Subs: P O'Neill for Callaghan (52 mins), P Brennan for Earley (inj, 55 mins), J Lonergan for Mullarkey (61 mins), M Foley for Fennin (63 mins), D Jordan for K Brennan (63 mins).

Referee: F Flynn (Leitrim).