Dublin struck three goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half to down Derry by 4-6 to 0-11 at Croke Park and claim the Allianz Football League Division 2 title.

Dessie Farrell’s men had trailed nu 0-6 to 0-4 at the end of a drab first-half, but once Killian O’Gara flicked Brian Fenton’s looping ball into the Oak Leafers’ net it looked like there’d only be one outcome.

Con O’Callaghan earned a penalty for Paul Mannion to expertly tuck away after that and John Small finished another slick move from the Leinster champions to the roof of Odhran Lynch’s net on 50 minutes.

Derry did get a couple of points back through marksman Shane McGuigan (free) and Paul Cassidy, but those were erased in an instant when Lorcan O’Dell chipped in the capital men’s fourth goal with an audacious effort that clipped into the top corner of the net off the post with a minute remaining.

It means the Dubs make an immediate return to topflight ranks as Division 2 champions, as they now look forward to another Leinster championship defence starting with either Wexford or Laois in three weeks’ time.

As for Derry, they commence their own provincial title defence against Fermanagh in Enniskillen on Saturday week.

Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Dublin v Derry in the Division 2 Allianz Football League Final here on #GAANOW @Doiregaa 0-11 (11) @DubGAAOfficial 4-6 (18) pic.twitter.com/hQMJSQ4mVi

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 2, 2023

Congratulations to @DubGAAOfficial the 2023 Division 2 Allianz Football League Champions.

Captain James McCarthy from @BallymunGAA lifts the cup!#GAANOW pic.twitter.com/3PhP8iu0a4

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 2, 2023

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