Offaly cruised to their first points in the NHL when they defeated a below-par Derry at St Brendan's Park, Birr, on Saturday - and that despite starting without their Birr players, who are in preparation for their All-Ireland club final against Dunloy on St Patrick's Day.

Derry struck first with a point in the 11th minute by Oliver Collins and still held an edge when they got their goal in the 26th minute. But they went downhill thereafter.

Nearing half-time, Kevin Kelly got by his marker and lashed the ball to the Derry net and Offaly led by 1-7 to 1-2 at the interval. They goaled again minutes into the second half, when Damien Murray finished a long ball to the net, and from then on the midlanders tagged on points at will.

OFFALY: S Byrne; K Brady, M O'Hara, B Teehan; C Cassidy, J Brady, C Murphy; G Rafferty, A Hanrahan; B Carroll (0-6), B Murphy (0-3), N Coughlan; N Murphy (0-2), K Kelly (1-2), D Murray (1-7). Subs: D Tanner for B Carroll, M Cordial (0-1) for N Coughlan, C Dunne for B Teehan, C Gath for G Rafferty, S O'Connor for S Byrne.

DERRY: K Stevenson; R Lynch, G Brunton, E McKeever; P McVeigh, D Magill, P O'Kane; A McCluskey, R Kennedy (0-1); P Cartin, M Conway, D McGrellis; M Collins, O Collins (1-4), J O'Dwyer. Subs: R Connery (0-1) for P Cartin, S McGlone for D McGrellis, E Cushnahan for J O'Dwyer, R McGoldrick for M Collins.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).