Glass goal helps Derry defeat Tyrone in Celtic Park thriller

Derry 1-15, Tyrone 1-12

Derry are up and running in 2026 after Conor Glass' wonder goal and Paudie McGrogan's heroic late block secured a fully deserved three point victory over old foes Tyrone that could be worth more than simply two points to Ciaran Meenagh's men.

Despite dominating long periods of the opening half the Oak Leafers must have been fearing the worse as they changed ends one point and one man in arrears after fit again Lachlan Murray was black carded in the closing minutes of the first 35 minutes.

Without a league win since that memorable Division One final of 2024, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow but sport is a test of character as much as ability and character is what shown in Derry's second half display with wonderful performances from the likes Gareth McKinless, Conor Doherty, Ethan Dherty and Glass.

And it was fitting that the game's penultimate score came from the boot of one of the squad's new brigade, Newbridge's Conor McAteer, who shook off the disappointment of Croke Park to score the point that left The Red Hands needing. That they didn't get it was down to Derry's refusal to bow.... and McGrogan's frame after he threw himself in front of Mattie McGleenan's goal bound last minute shot.

Two big points, but an even bigger result and one which should add real momentum to Meenagh's project.

The Derry boss was able to welcome back Murray as one of two changes from the 15 that started in Croke Park against Meath, the second being Matthew Downey who was rewarded with a start following his impressive cameo off the bench against The Royals. Malachy O'Rourke meanwhile, back in the venue where he'd won three Derry county titles with Glen, made four changes to the 15 that started against Kildare, Darragh Canavan, Conor O'Neill, Brian Kennedy and Eoin McElholm the men to come in for a fixture in which both counties were seeking a morale boosting first win.

And it was the home team who struck first blood through early points from Conor Doherty and Murray as Derry went two up inside the opening minute of a half that swung from one end to the other.

Mattie Donnelly got Tyrone on the scoreboard two minutes in and the chances kept coming as Murray's run inside from the left wing almost brought the game's opening goal just three minutes in, Downey just unable to stretch high enough to turn his centre into the net rather than over the bar.

Ethan Jordan, fresh from his 1-09 in Healy Park, started his clock running on this week's tally with a fifth minute free that was quickly cancelled out by Glass, only for Jordan once again split the posts, this time from a '45', and leave it 0-4 to 0-3 12 minutes in.

A Murray free edged Derry two up once more but Tyrone were level just short of 20 minutes when another Jordan free was followed by a Ben Cullen point that should have been wiped out after Niall Morgan's fetch on the kick-out meant a Red Hands breach that was missed by the officials.

Niall Loughlin was the next Oak Leaf player on target but Tyrone hit the front for the first time when Conor O'Neill's picked the perfect time to register the game's first two-pointer for 0-7 to 0-6.

Brendan Rogers became the sixth Derry scorer by making it 0-7 to 0-8 and better followed when Conor Doherty's superb high catch on the kick-out, his third of the half, led to Ethan Doherty sending Glass through the middle. The Derry captain had plenty to do but produced a sublime finish into Niall Morgan's top corner for 1-07 to 0-8.

That should have been the cue for an Oak Leaf half-time lead but instead Derry fell asleep on a 33rd minute free from which Ethan Jordan was alert enough to look up and pick out Ciaran Daly who found a finish equal to Glass', the balling nestling in the net via the underside of the crossbar.

And still the drama wasn't over, as before the game could restart, Roscommon referee Paddy Neilan's attention was dragged to the opposite end of the pitch where he produced a black card for Murray following an off the ball incident, meaning Derry would start the second half 1-08 to 1-07 behind and one man down.

Yet despite their numerical disadvantage, it was Derry who controlled the opening stages of the second half, Shane McGuigan's first score of the day levelling things four minutes after the restart.

Indeed it looked like Tyrone would fail to register a shot during Murray's absence until, with only seconds remaining until his return, Michael McKernan unleashed a hotly disputed two-pointer - Derry insisting it was from inside the arc - which took Tyrone 1-10 to 1-08 in front.

That lead was wiped out by two Shane McGuigan's frees, though the Slaughtneil star also passed up an simple third point from play before Eoin McElholm's first of the day handed Tyrone the lead for the fourth time in the game with 50 minutes gone.

Derry needed inspiration and found it from the boot of Rogers whose huge two point effort swung the game and had Derry in front from the first time in 24 minutes at 1-12 to 1-11, that after both Paul Cassidy and Lachlan Murray had passed up goal chances.

Again a Jordan free levelled and now Celtic Park held it's breath to see which county would blink first.

A McGuigan free and Conor McAteer's lovely effort with his first touch handed Derry the lead heading up finishing straight, a position consolidated by McGuigan's first from play to put Derry 1-15 to 1-12 up with five to go.

A series of wides meant left Tyrone needing a goal and they almost got it when McGleenan engineered himself a yard in front of the posts with one minute left, only for McGrogan's block to secure a win which was Derry's first in league football since the Division One final of 2024. On this evidence it won’t be the last of 2026!

Derry scorers: Conor Glass 1-1, Conor Doherty 0-2, Lachlan Murray 0-2 (1f), Matthew Downey 0-1, Niall Loughlin 0-1, Brendan Rogers 0-3 (1tp), Shane McGuigan 0-4 (3f), Conor McAteer 0-1.

Tyrone scorers: Ciaran Daly 1-0, Mattie Donnelly 0-1, Ethan Jordan 0-4 (3f, 1 '45'), Ben Cullen 0-1, Conor O'Neill 0-2 (1tp), Darragh Canavan 0-1, Michael McKernan 0-2, (1tp), Eoin McElholm 0-1.

Derry: Shea McGuckin, Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Conor McCluskey Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty, Matthew Downey, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray. (Subs) Niall Toner for M Downey, 47mins; Conor McAteer for N Loughlin, 58mins; Sean Young for L Murray, 62mins; Jack Doherty for P Cassidy, 67mins.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan, Cormac Quinn, Aidan Clarke, Joey Clarke, Ben Cullen, Michael McKernan, Ronan Cassidy, Brian Kennedy, Conor O'Neill, Darragh Canavan, Conn Kilpatrick, Ciaran Daly, Eoin McElholm, Mattie Donnelly, Ethan Jordan. (Subs) Peter Teague for B Kennedy, 53mins; Matthew Og McGleenan for C O'Neill, 55mins; Lorcan McGarrity for E Jordan, 60mins; Brian Burns for M McKernan, 62mins.

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)