Tipperary ... 4-19 Derry ... 2-14: Goals from Eugene O'Neill, Eoin Kelly and Liam Cahill eased Tipperary to a comfortable win over Derry with a controlled performance at Dungiven yesterday.
However, Derry's gritty display will have restored some confidence after morale-sapping hammerings at the hands of Cork and Offaly.
Two late goals from Ollie Collins and Danny McGrellis helped reflect the effort put in by the Ulstermen.
The difference in resources available to the two sides was shown by the fact Tipperary manager Michael Doyle was able to draft in Brian O'Meara and David Kennedy for the injured Connor Gleeson and Aidan Butler, while Derry's line-up drew heavily on their under-21 resources.
Tipp's first goal came after six minutes when O'Neill scrambled home from close range after Lar Corbett's effort was blocked. However. with their half-back line playing well Derry refused to buckle and Collins's accuracy from frees kept them in touch at 1-6 to 0-6 with 30 minutes played.
Kelly found the net before the break from a 21-metre free to give Doyle's side a 2-8 to 0-7 lead at half-time.
On the resumption Derry battled hard but Tipperary always had enough class to keep them at bay. Substitute Cahill got Tipperary's third goal in the 56th minute to put his side 3-14 to 0-13 ahead. But with Dominic Magill, Peter O'Kane and Raymond Kennedy battling well Derry rallied and Collins closed the gap with a goal.
In injury time the sides exchanged two more goals, O'Neill getting his second for Tipperary while McGrellis struck to have the last word for the home team.
DERRY: K Stevenson; P McVeigh, G Brunton, R Lynch; K Hinphey, D Magill (0-1), P O'Kane (0-1); M Conway, A McCloskey (0-1); P Cartin, O Collins (1-10, all frees), R Kennedy; D McGrellis (1-0), R Kennedy (0-1), J O'Dwyer. Subs: A McCrystal for McCloskey, S McGlone for Convery.
TIPPERARY: J Cotteril; T Costello, P Maher, B Dunne; R Flannery, D Kennedy (0-1), B Horgan; B O'Meara (0-1), C Morrissey (0-2); G O'Grady (0-3), J Carroll, J O'Brien; E Kelly (2-9), E O'Neill (2-1), L Corbett (0-1). Subs: L Cahill (0-1) for Carroll, MO'Leary for O'Brien, T King for Horgan.
Referee: JA Gribben (Down).
