Derry secured an impressive result to kick off their National Football League Division 1 campaign, defeating Kerry on a scoreline of 0-15 to 2-8 at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.
It was a very exciting game despite the tough conditions, with both sides playing some excellent football at times. Derry certainly started the stronger of the two sides, producing a number of brilliant scores in the first half as they took a four-point lead into the interval.
Conor Glass opens the scoring for Derry in Tralee.
Kerry 0-00 Derry 0-01
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However, Kerry would produce a spirited fightback in the second half.
Two goals in the final quarter got them right back into the contest, with one of them coming on the back of a big turnover in the opposition half that left the Derry goalkeeper stranded out the pitch.
We have the opening goal in Tralee as Conor Geaney finds the net with Odhran Lynch way out from his goal.
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While Kerry would level the scores in the final few minutes, Derry showed great resiliency to get their noses back in front.
This late free from Shane McGuigan ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.
Mickey Harte's Derry taste victory over Kerry, sealed by Shane McGuigan at the death.
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This result gives Mickey Harte the ideal start to his first league campaign in charge of Derry, with the 72-year old no doubt hoping his team can kick on from this point.
READ HERE: The GAA Are Reportedly Looking At Introducing VAR, But Would It Work?
Colm Cooper throws cheeky Mickey Harte dig after Derry beat Kerry
Despite being the away side, Derry would have been considered as favourites by many for this evening's game. They fielded a near full strength team for the game, including controversially including three Glen players less than a week on from the All-Ireland club final.
Mickey Harte certainly seems to be adapting quickly to his new surroundings, although it will take quite some time before others look beyond his association with Tyrone.
Speaking on RTÉ after the game, Colm Cooper praised Derry for their performance. He also could not resist the opportunity to take a cheeky dig at Mickey Harte's Tyrone background.
For most of the game, Derry were probably the better side...
I wasn't coming in with huge expectation (for Kerry) tonight. They played a couple of McGrath Cup games, they weren't of high quality. I didn't expect Kerry to be sharp tonight.
They created five goals chances, but for a lot of the night the play wasn't up to scratch. When they did come alive, they looked dangerous. The disappointing thing for them was probably that some of the young players they started tonight found it difficult.
I would say Derry are probably the toughest team to play against in the country right now...
[Derry] got turned over a number of times, the goalkeeper got turned over a couple of times and Kerry took the second opportunity.
Those things will worry Mickey Harte, but if you offered him two points coming down on the first day out, taking off his Tyrone top and putting on a Derry one, he would have taken that!
A cheeky one.
While Mickey Harte's move to Derry was a controversial one within the county, they will quickly get on board if the team continue to pick up results such as this one over the coming weeks and months.
SEE ALSO: Sean Cavanagh Criticises Derry Boss Mickey Harte Over Handling Of Glen Players
