Derry 2-9 Mayo 1-9: Derry selector John McCloskey pointed to Mark Lynch's second-half goal as the key moment in their Division One win over Mayo at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Derry held off Mayo's wind-assisted fightback after the hosts had built up a big first-half lead and it was Lynch's goal that derailed the Westerners' revival.
"We knew scoring chances would be few and far between so we had to capitalise on the chances that came our way and Mark came up with a crucial goal for us," said McCloskey.
Derry were vastly improved from their defeat by Down last week thanks mainly to the return of university players Lynch and Barry McGoldrick. "We had a bit more physicality around the half-forward line and the players learned from the week before you just can't give lads free space to destroy you. We worked hard on that in training this week and it paid dividends tonight," he noted.
But the former Armagh assistant manager admitted Derry had enjoyed good fortune when Mayo twice hit John Deighan's crossbar in the closing stages.
Mayo boss John O'Mahony was left to rue those near misses. "We had a couple of half goal chances in the first half as well. The goal we got was by no means the best chance we had but the bit of luck we needed and a few other things didn't go our way," he said.
Goals in either half from Colin Devlin and Lynch set Derry on their way to this narrow victory.
Derry dominated the first half and a point from Enda Muldoon and a free from Paddy Bradley gave them the lead. Andy Moran replied with a point on 14 minutes before Derry took control as Bradley set up Devlin who landed the opening goal. Derry then landed scores from Bradley (two), Lynch and Ciarán Mullan. Mayo kicked four frees wide and it took until 31 minutes to register their second score, through Austin O'Malley. Derry extended their lead to 1-8 to 0-2 before the break as Mullan and Bradley converted sideline frees.
On the restart points from Moran, Alan Dillon (two frees) and Conor Mortimer closed the gap to 1-8 to 0-6. Just as Mayo looked set to overhaul the hosts Lynch struck with a goal.
But back came Mayo as Mortimer got his boot to a breaking ball for a goal and then added a point for 2-8 to 1-7. A point from a Bradley free settled Derry but Mayo responded when Chris Barrett pointed. Mayo twice hit the crossbar in the closing minutes but despite Mickey Mullins's late score Derry held on.
DERRY: J Deighan; R Dillon, K McGuckin, F McEldowney; L Hinphey, M McBride, J Keenan; F Doherty, J Conway; M Lynch (1-1), B McGoldrick, E Muldoon (0-1); C Devlin (1-0), P Bradley (0-5, four frees), C Mullan (0-2, one free). Subs: M McIver for R Dillon (23 mins), C O'Kane for McGoldrick (55mins), R Wilkinson for Keenan (69 mins), E Lynn for Devlin (69 mins).
MAYO: D Clarke; C Moran, B J Padden, L O'Malley; C Barrett, T Howley, K Higgins; S O'Shea, P Gardiner; J Gill, A Dillon (0-2, frees), M Mullins (0-1); C Mortimer (1-2, one free), A O'Malley (0-1), A Moran (0-2). Subs: T Cunniffe for C Moran (half-time), D Heaney for J Gill (half-time).
Referee: J Bannon(Longford).
