Derry had to draw on all their experience and determination to hold off a determined comeback by Roscommon before emerging 2-12 to 0-14 winners at Fr McNally Park in Banagher. A goal and a point in the closing minutes giving them victory.
Derry led 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time but the visitors fought back and were twice level in the final minutes before Derry's Gary Briggs struck for the decisive goal two minutes from the end of normal time.
Kerry put a poor Sligo side to the sword 6-19 to 4-8 at Lerrig pitch and so garnered their first brace of league points.
It was never a contest as Kerry produced an explosive opening when Shane Brick fired over a point from the throw-in and then two errors by Sligo goalkeeper Michael Gorman allowed harmless looking efforts from John Egan and Padraig Randles to slip into his net. Errol Tuohy added a third as Kerry led at the break 3-10 to 2-3.
It was much of the same in the second half and goals from Brick, Tuohy and Egan had Kerry out of sight long before the final whistle.
Carlow maintained their unbeaten run at Ruislip yesterday with a 2-16 to 0-9 win over a disappointing London side short three of the team that defeated Meath a week previously.
Pat Coady punished London's indiscretions by sending over seven points from frees.
SCORERS
Derry: G McGonigle (1-8, five frees), G Biggs (1-0), S McBride (0-2), A McCloskey, G Biggs (0-1 each). Roscommon: D Mulvey (0-11, seven frees), F Quine, M Connaughton,, M Brehoney (0-1 each).
Kerry: S Brick (1-7, 1-4 frees), J Egan (2-1), E Tuohy (2-1), P Randles (1-2), D Dineen, M Conway (0-2 each), C Harris, P Lyons, E Sheehy, P Lyons (0-1 each). Sligo: P Severs (3-6), M Gilmartin (1-0), M Burke, K Raymond (0-1 each).
Carlow: P Coady (0-7, all frees), Paddy Coady (0-3), B Lawler (1-1), D Murphy (1-0), P Kehoe, R Foley, B Murphy, M Brennan, M Keating (0-1 each). London: J McGaughran (0-3), K White (0-2), B Foley (0-2), M O'Meara, E Kinlonm (0-1 each)
