Derry bounced back from their Ulster MFC final defeat to Tyrone with victory over Roscommon on Saturday night in Cavan.<\/p>\n
Goals from Rocco Devlin and Gabriel Gormley were key scores in an assured performance.<\/p>\n
It was a victory built on winning 16 of the game\u2019s first 20 kick-outs – from both ends \u2013 as the Oakleafers took root.<\/p>\n
They also needed the heroics of outstanding goalkeeper Michael Doherty and his array of saves on top of his kick-out variation.<\/p>\n
Derry won the throw-in, and after a sustained spell of possession, Devlin\u2019s pace saw him cut in to score the opening point after 90 seconds.<\/p>\n
By the time Tadhg Bradley played in Lorcan Higgins for Derry\u2019s second, the Rossies were off target at the other end.<\/p>\n
In a cagey and slow first half, Derry controlled their own kick-out and won five of Roscommon\u2019s nine.<\/p>\n
Joshua Coyne nailed a 45 for the first Roscommon score after 12 minutes before Derry hit for goal.<\/p>\n
It began with Tom\u00e1s Devlin\u2019s incisive backdoor cut with Gabriel Gormley palming home at the far post for a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 22 minutes.<\/p>\n
Neil McDermott, Don Mulholland and Tadhg Bradley registered scores for a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead.<\/p>\n
It could\u2019ve been even more after a direct move when a Doherty kick-out was flicked over the top but Mulholland pulled his shot wide.<\/p>\n
Derry won the throw-in at the start of the second half on the way to a second Lorcan Higgins score.<\/p>\n
Their midfield control continued with Tom\u00e1s Devlin then adding a point after a two-point free from goalkeeper Doherty broke loose in the Roscommon goalmouth.<\/p>\n
A Rocco Devlin point put Derry into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead after 36 minutes before the Roscommon kickback.<\/p>\n
The Connacht champions were off colour on their shooting and their four-week layoff left them playing second fiddle to a more battle-hardened Derry.<\/p>\n
A two-pointer from Se\u00e1n Duggan with his first touch since coming off the bench was a Roscommon glimmer of hope before they found the net seconds later.<\/p>\n
Derry were turned over after securing a short kickout. Jayden Concannon was twice denied by the brilliance of goalkeeper Doherty but Derry failed to clear the danger. It allowed Seamie Carthy to square the ball for Concannon to flick to the net.<\/p>\n
Derry\u2019s response was the breaking of the game. Roscommon had the gap back to four but a two-point free from McDermott and a second Bradley point cancelled out the goal.<\/p>\n
Roscommon battled away in the attempt to save the game with two-pointers all during the final quarter. Ronan Carr\u2019s effort had the margin back to four but Tom\u00e1s Devlin had another response.<\/p>\n
Rocco Devlin raced through to bag a sensational second Derry goal with five minutes to go. On the flip side, Doherty made further saved to ensure Derry\u2019s safe passage.<\/p>\n