National Football League: Division Two B: A two-point half-time lead was never going to be enough for Louth at Drogheda yesterday, and so it proved as Derry took advantage of a gale-force wind to run out comfortable winners.

For long periods of a dour first half, Mickey Moran's side frustrated Louth with possession football, though a Paul Bradley free after 23 minutes was their only score of a scrappy opening half.

With two frees and one point from play, St Mary's clubman Niall Sharkey was Louth's only scorer of the half as they led by 0-3 to 0-1 at the short whistle.

Derry upped the tempo after the break and Paul McFlynn quickly cancelled out Louth's advantage with two well-taken points inside five minutes.

That set Derry on their way to victory and Mark Lynch, Paul Murphy and Paul Bradley (2) all added points before Murphy put the result beyond doubt with a composed finish after 63 minutes.

Louth added a final point through Paddy Matthews.

DERRY: B Gillis; K McGuckin, P Kelly, G O'Kane; F McEldooney, SM Lockhart, C McWilliams; F Doherty, J McBride; P Murphy (1-1), C Gilligan, P McFlynn (0-2); P Murphy, Paddy Bradley, Paul Bradley (0-3, two frees). Subs: M Lynch (0-1) for Paddy Bradley (10 mins), E Bradley for P. Murphy (48 mins). E Burke for M Lynch (55 mins).

Louth: S McCoy; A Page, D Shevlin, J Carr; G Long, A Hoey, S Gerrard; D Devaney, R Carroll; C Malone, M Stanfield, R Carroll; S Lennon, P Matthews (0-1), N Sharkey (0-3, two frees). Subs: J Neary for A Hoey (35 mins), C Sheridan for S Gerrard (38 mins), R Kelly for G Long (40 mins), T O'Brien for D Devaney (44), Colm Kearney for J Kermath (46 mins), D Clarke for S Lennon (55 mins).

YELLOW CARDS - Derry: M Lynch (55 mins) replaced by E Burke. Louth: A Hoey (35 mins) replaced by J Neary, S Gerrard (38 mins) replaced by C Sheridan, J Kermath (46 mins) replaced by Colm Kearney, S Lennon (55 mins) replaced by D Clarke.

Referee: P Hughes.