Derry, the league specialists in the 1990s, kept alive their slim hopes of a play-off place with a tremendous display at Celtic Park yesterday.

Their 14-point victory over a disappointing Down side was fully deserved as they dominated throughout and were devastating in the first half.

In the final 25 minutes of the opening half Derry scored 1-9 without reply to go in at the break 1-10 to 0-2 ahead. The Derry goal in the eighth minute was a fortunate strike, Joe Brolly's attempt at a point deceiving Down goalkeeper Michael McVeigh and going in off the post.

Down had opened brightly and frees from Shane Mulholland and Gerard Deegan put them ahead by 02 to 0-1 after five minutes.

However, Derry then took the initiative and points from Brolly (three), Dermot Dougan, Enda Muldoon (two each), Gary Coleman, Anthony Tohill and Ruairi Boylan gave them control.

Down continued to disappoint in the second half - in fact, they failed to score from play throughout the hour, their points in the second half all frees from Paul Higgins, Aidan Farrell and Deegan.

Playing into the breeze, Derry were not as accurate. However, scores from Muldoon, Tohill, Joe Cassidy, Brolly and two from late substitute Geoffrey McGonigle secured a very comfortable victory.

DERRY: E McCloskey; S Donnelly, D O'Neill, S M Lockhart; F Crossan, J McBride, G Coleman (0-1); R Boylan (0-1), E Muldoon (0-3); A Tohill (0-2), D Dougan (0-2), D Heaney; J Brolly (1-4), D Bateson, J Cassidy (0-1). Sub: G McGonigle (0-2) for Brolly (55 mins).

DOWN: M McVeigh; F Caulfield, S Ward, P Matthews; D Flynn, M Magill, P Higgins (0-1); B Burns, S Poland; S Mulholland (0-1), A Farrell (0- 1), J McCartan; Gerard Deegan (0-2), Gregory Deegan, L Parr. Subs: C Deegan for Mulholland (47 mins), A Molloy for Flynn (47 mins), S Ward for Gregory Deegan (50 mins).

Referee: B Gorman (Armagh).