Derry finish stronger to defeat Kerry

Derry 2-13 Kerry 2-09 : Derry finished the stronger of the two sides to ensure their NFL Division One victory over All-Ireland…

Derry 2-13 Kerry 2-09: Derry finished the stronger of the two sides to ensure their NFL Division One victory over All-Ireland champions Kerry at Parnell Park today.

Derry ran out 2-13 to 2-09 winners, a scoreline all the more impressive given their sluggish start. They quickly found themselves 2-04 to 0-3 down at the start of the game.

Kieren Donaghy was influential for the Kingdom as he set up both Donncha Walsh and Darren O'Sullivan for the two goals.

However, the fate of Pat O'Shea's side took a turn for the worse when Colm Cooper was red-carded, while Paddy Bradley's 0-6 haul hepled Derry to their first Division One title since 2000.

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Earlier in the day Wexford needed extra-time and plenty of character before overcoming a determined Fermanagh side to win the NFL Division Three final at the same venue.

By the end of a pulsating match Wexford recorded 3-15 to Fermanagh's tally of 0-20 with Matty Forde in his usual imperious form for the Model County as they landed their first senior football since 1945.

Forde's personal tally of 1-07 doesn't tell the full story as four of those points were scored in the second half of extra-time after the sides were level (0-16 to 2-10) at the end of normal time.

Forde scored an early goal for Wexford before Adrian Flynn added a second. But just when it appeared Wexford had done enough, Ryan Keenan stepped up with his fifth point of the game to force extra-time.

Tom Brewster and Mark Little had put the Ernesiders ahead but Paddy Colfer's third goal for Wexford and Forde's accuracy between the posts was enough to secure victory.

Tipperary were comfortable 2-13 to 0-12 winners of the Division Four final against Offaly at O'Moore Park. Last night Dublin lost the Division Two final 0-15 to 0-10 against Westmeath at Páirc Tailteann.

National Football League Finals

NFL Division One
Derry 2-13 Kerry 2-09 
(Parnell Park)

NFL Division Two 
Dublin 0-10 Westmeath 0-15 
(Páirc Tailteann) 
 
NFL Division Three 
Wexford 3-15 Fermanagh 0-20 
(Parnell Park)
 
NFL Division Four 
Tipperary 2-13 Offaly 0-12 
(O'Moore Park)