Determined Derry bounce back

Derry 0-14 Monaghan 0-8:DERRY claimed their first league points with a deserved victory at Celtic Park on Saturday evening. "We'd two bad matches in February but we are a developing team," said boss John Brennan.

Paddy Bradley put Derry ahead after 30 seconds and points from Mark Lynch, Michael Bateson, Bradley again and Enda Lynn made it 0-5 to 0-0 after 18 minutes.

Three more Bradley points (two frees) made it 0-8 to 0-2 in Derry’s favour before Monaghan’s Matthew McKenna was sent off having collected his second yellow card.

Derry’s Barry McGoldrick added a long-range effort to give his side a 0-9 to 0-3 interval lead.

Tommy Freeman (two) and Paul Finlay (a free) gave Monaghan hope but points from Derry’s Bateson, Craig and Sean Leo McGoldrick kept them in front.

Derry’s Neil Forester was later sent off for a second yellow card

DERRY: B Gillis; B McCallion, C McKaigue, A McAlynn; M Craig (0-1), M Bateson (0-2), SL McGoldrick (0-1); M Friel, PJ McCloskey; N Forrester, G O’Kane, B McGoldrick (0-1); M Lynch (0-2, 1f), P Bradley (0-6, 3f), E Lynn (0-1). Subs: C Kielt for M Bateson (47 mins); C Gilligan for Lynn (62); E McGuckin for Lynch, Patsy Bradley for Paddy Bradley (all 68).

MONAGHAN: M Keogh; V Corey, Darren Hughes (0-1), C Walsh; D Malone, D Mone, David Hughes; E Lennon, D Clerkin; M McKenna, D Morgan, J Turley; P Finlay (0-2, 2f), K Hughes (0-2), E Duffy (0-1, f). Subs: T Freeman (0-2) for David Hughes (half-time); C Duffy for CWalsh (47); C McGuinnes for E Duffy (49)

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).