A super-charged performance from Anthony Tohill brought Sligo's unbeaten start to the Allianz National Football League to an end at Celtic Park on Saturday. Manager Eamonn Coleman described him afterwards as "the best midfielder ever to have played the game".

"What other midfielder in the country could dominate a game such as that and kick 1-6 into the bargain? He was awesome," said Coleman.

"We had some poor results before Christmas, but today was the beginning of the push for the Championship. We needed that win and there are a lot of places up for grabs on this team and the youngsters out there today showed they are up for the challenge."

However, Derry's victory came at a cost, as they had to play the final quarter of the game with 14 men after Sean Marty Lockhart was harshly dismissed following a second yellow card.

The decision seemed to spur the home side on and they finished the stronger, with Tohill supreme.

With wind advantage the visitors started the game very strongly and four points - from Paul Taylor (2) and Gerry McGowan (2) - in the first seven minutes put them in the ascendancy.

However, Derry fought back and points from Tohill, Enda Muldoon, Tohill again and Paddy Bradley brought them level. Derry went in front in the 21st minute when Bradley fed the charging Tohill, who burst through the Sligo defence to shoot low across James Curran to the corner of the net.

Despite the goal, Sligo went in level at the break after a determined fight back.

Derry were the stronger team in the second half, but despite a lot of possession they were wasteful with their shooting.

The turning point was Lockhart's dismissal and Derry eventually ran out deserving winners.

DERRY: E McCloskey; A Heaney, K McCloy, P Cartin; G Coleman, SM Lockhart, P McFlynn (0-1); A Tohill (1-6), N McOscar; P O'Kane, J McBride (0-2), C Gilligan; P Bradley (0-1), E Muldoon (0- 2), N Convery (0-1). Subs: P Murphy (0-1) for McOscar (15 mins), F Crossan for Heaney (32 mins), D Dougan for Bradley (50 mins), K McKeever for Crossan (51 mins), R Rocks for McBride (62 mins).

SLIGO: J Curran; M Cosgrove, N Clancy, P Gallagher; N McGuire, D Durkin, B Phillips; E O'Hara, C O'Meara; D Sloyan, K O'Neill, R Brennan; T Brennan (0-1); P Taylor (0-7), G McGowan (1-2). Subs: P Doohan for McGuire (27 mins); J McPartland for Sloyan (56 mins); S Davey for R Brennan (58 mins); C O'Grady for O'Neill (67 mins).

Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).