Derry relegated to Division Two after Mayo defeat
Derry have been relegated to Division Two after they suffered a 1-17 to 2-19 defeat against Mayo at Celtic Park in their penultimate Division One game.
The Oak Leafers made a bright start to the game with Patrick McGurk rattling home an early goal on his first start.
They trailed 1-8 to 1-11 at the break as Jordan Flynn fired in a goal for Mayo after the hooter had sounded for half-time
Paddy Tally's side made a slow start to the second half and were punished, with Frank Irwin scoring Mayo's second goal as they moved 10 ahead and while Derry fought back, it ultimately proved to be in vain.
Last year's Division One winners, who are still awaiting a first league win this year with one game left, drop down a division after collecting just one point from their six games.
Late first half Mayo goal turns the tide
Former minor captain McGurk was handed a starting berth in place of the injured Brendan Rogers and made an instant impact by firing into the far corner from close range.
It came just minutes after Niall Toner had palmed wide when presented with a goal opportunity after good work from Shane McGuigan.
The impressive Matthew Ruane and Ryan O'Donoghue, who were both key to Mayo's victory, kicked four points between them to get their side back in the game.
Derry then lost goalkeeper Odhran Lynch to injury and his replacement Neil McNicholl was called into action immediately, making himself big as David O'Brien fired wide after being found by Aidan O'Shea.
Tally's side registered four points in a row, but Mayo fought back to within a point and landed a decisive blow as half-time beckoned.
Flynn clinically dispatched into the far corner to give Mayo a three-point advantage at the break.
The goal came after the hooter had already sounded as Derry had initially attempted an attack after O'Shea had been dispossessed but after Padraig McGrogan was turned over just on halfway, Mayo worked the ball downfield again and Flynn smashed a low shot past McNicholl.
Soon after the restart, McNicholl denied O'Donoghue, who fired over a point on the rebound but the goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Irwin from scoring minutes later.
Ruane tagged on another two points as Mayo rattled off four successive scores to establish a comfortable advantage.
Derry did chip away at their lead, cutting it to five at one stage with Conor Glass landing two straight two-pointers alongside a point from Conor Doherty.
McGuigan spurned another goal chance for the hosts, firing into the side netting from a tight angle.
Glass got another two-pointer, but two late Mayo points sealed Derry's fate with the Oak Leafers still to play Armagh next weekend and ensured Kevin McStay's side will retain their own Division One status.
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