Institute suffer opening day loss at Dergview

This certainly wasn't the start Institute wanted, as they finally returned to competitive league football for the first time in 16 months.

Sean Connor's youthful side were second best, as a three goal blitz from Dergview in the opening 25 minutes ended the game as a contest, at Darragh Parkas Tommy Canning's side eased to an opening day victory.

While the defeat is a sore blow for the Waterside men, Connor will also be worried that injuries are already mounting up.

Going into the game skipper Cormac Burke and young goalkeeper Dylan Doherty missed out and then midfielder Shaun Doherty and defender Oran Brogan had to be substituted in the first half with what looked like hamstring problems, while stand-in captain Aidan McCauley and defender Shaun Leppard also finished the game with concussion problems.

For 'Stute they struggled in the early stages with Dergview front man Benny Igiehon helping himself to an early brace, but it was his overall play, which meant he was a constant threat in the opening half-hour.

In fact, the ex-Sligo Rovers striker scored the opening goal after just six minutes when he cut in from the right onto his favoured left-foot and made no mistake drilling the ball past teenager Joe McConnellogue.