Derry 0-20 Leitrim 0-16: Derry spoil Leitrim's Croke Park party

Derry are Allianz Football League Division 4 champions, after beating Leitrim, 0-20 to 0-16.

Given the fact that Leitrim boasts a population of just over 32,000, there was a staggering amount of travelling support for the Connacht county's first Croke Park appearance since 2006.

The romantic narrative of Terry Hyland's charges' unlikely run through Division 4 caught the entire country's imagination, but perhaps it somewhat overshadowed Derry's redemption.

The Oakleafers, who competed in the Division 1 decider as recently as 2014, hollowed out with relegation to the bottom tier 12 months ago, but they enter the championship in a far more positive mood this year given their league triumph.

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Buoyed by significant support, Leitrim started the brighter. Riding a wave of momentum, they dominated their opponents in the early stages, with Ryan O'Rourke, Raymond Mulvey and Shane Moran kicking eye-catching scores. Opening up a 0-7 to 0-4 lead, they could have been even further ahead were it not for nine first-half wides.

However, Derry soon found their way around the Leitrim cover, scoring six points without reply to close out the half, with Enda Lynn and Ryan Bell leading the charge.

Emlyn Mulligan opened the scoring for Leitrim seconds after the restart to reduce the gap to two.

However, Derry were continuing to get on top of their opponents, and it took an impressive save from Cathal McCrann on Emmett Bradley moments later to keep them in touch.

Derry's class was beginning to tell, and Slaughtneil duo Chrissy McKaigue and Shane McGuigan began to do the damage with impressive scores.

Ultimately, Damien McErlain's charges were too strong, keeping Leitrim at bay and winning out by four points.

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Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)

Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-6 (0-1 free, 0-1 mark), Enda Lynn 0-3, Ryan Bell 0-3 (0-1 free), Chrissy McKaigue 0-2, Christopher Bradley 0-2 (0-2 frees), Emmett Bradley 0-2, Pádraig Cassidy 0-1, Niall Toner 0-1.

Scorers for Leitrim: Ryan O'Rourke 0-6 (0-4 frees), Raymond Mulvey 0-2, Evan Sweeney 0-2 (0-1 mark), Paddy Maguire 0-1, Mark Plunkett 0-1, Shane Moran 0-1, Dean McGovern 0-1, Emlyn Mulligan 0-1, Domhnaill Flynn 0-1 (0-1 free).

Derry

1. Thomas Mallon

3. Brendan Rogers

2. Karl McKaigue

4. Paul McNeill

5. Michael McEvoy

6. Chrissy McKaigue

7. Niall Keenan

10. Emmett Bradley

9. Conor McAtamney

8. Pádraig Cassidy

11. Enda Lynn

12. Conor Doherty

13. Shane McGuigan

14. Ryan Bell

15. Christopher Bradley

Subs:

Benny Heron for Enda Lynn (50th minute)

Niall Toner or Ryan Bell (50th minute)

Jason Rocks for Conor Doherty (59th minute)

Eamon McGill for Karl McKaigue (65th minute)

Ryan Dougan for Christopher Bradley (72nd minute)

Leitrim

1. Cathal McCrann

2. Aidan Flynn

3. Micheal McWeeney

4. Paddy Maguire

7. Raymond Murray

5. Seán McWeeney

22. Cillian McGloin

8. Mark Plunkett

9. Shane Moran

6. Shane Quinn

15. Ryan O'Rourke

10. Dean McGovern

12. Domhnaill Flynn

11. Emlyn Mulligan

14. Evan Sweeney

Subs:

Pearce Dolan for Cillian McGloin (32nd minute)

Darragh Rooney for Emlyn Mulligan (45th minute)

Damian Moran for Shane Moran (50th minute)

Conor Reynolds for Aidan Flynn (61st minute)

Jack Heslin for Domhnaill Flynn (65th minute)