Derry just shade it

Derry shaded a tightly contested tie against Armagh at Lavey yesterday.

With both sides struggling to cope with the conditions it was Derry who started the better, captain Paddy Bradley pointing a free after he had been fouled in the first minute. Derry quickly doubled their advantage when Bradley pointed another free after good work by Paul Murphy.

Armagh eventually opened their account in the eighth minute when Derry 'keeper Mickey Conlan misjudged the flight of Barry Murray's punt into the square and deflected the ball into his own net. Thereafter the sides traded scores until the break which saw them level, Derry with 0-4 to Armagh's 1-1.

Armagh looked to have secured a share the spoils after points from Barry Murray and Paul McGrane but a late free from Bradley saw Derry open their season with a victory.

DERRY: M Conlan; K McGuckin, N McCusker, K McCloy; P Wilson, S M Lockhart (0-1), C McWilliams; Patsy Bradley, J McBride (0-1); Paul Murphy, F McEldowney, Paul Bradley; Padraig Murphy, Paddy Bradley (0-6, five frees), C Gilligan. Subs: E Burke for Paul Murphy, P McFlynn for Padraig Murphy.

ARMAGH: C McKinney; P Watters, J McNulty, P McCormack; K McElvanna, C McKeever, A McCann; J Toal, P McGrane (0-1); M O'Rourke, J McEntee (0-1, free), B Murray (1-1); G Swift, R Austin (0-1, free), C Fearon. Subs: G Loughran for O'Rourke.

Referee: P Mullan (Antrim).