Damian McErlain was proud of his Derry players after they came within a whisker of upsetting Tyrone yesterday.

The one-sided contest that many had predicted failed to materialise as the Allianz League Division 4 champions gave as good as they got in Omagh, and even led with eight minutes remaining.

“The effort was absolutely tremendous, we’ve come on leaps and bounds this year as a team," the Derry manager reflected.

“We can’t ask for any more from the boys — we went toe to toe with Tyrone in Omagh.

“All the patronising before the match was hard to listen to, so I’m glad we came out and delivered a performance. We're pleased with the performance, disappointed that there was six in it at the end, we didn't feel that it was a six-point game. That's the ruthless end of it and the gap we have to bridge, I suppose."

Asked if he had expected Derry to be ahead so late in the game, McErlain replied: “Ideally you’d have been getting into the lead at that particular point in the game — possibly even later would have been more ideal, but it’s a position I’d have taken from you before the match.

“We’re learning, big-time, and we’ll have to learn quick as well, but it was a very good performance and we can take a lot from it.”

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