Derry manager Paddy Tally said it would "take a wee bit of time to analyse that game" after his team contrived to lose to Kerry in the Allianz Football League Division One contest at Celtic Park.

The Oak Leafers led by five with five minutes left after a Shane McGuigan goal was quickly followed by points from substitute Lachlan Murray and McGuigan.

However, a goal from substitute Paul Geaney gave the Kingdom hope and in an extraordinary closing 90 seconds of action, his fellow sub Donal O'Sullivan netted to get Kerry on terms before Geaney majored again moments later to stun the home supporters as the visitors snatched a 5-15 to 1-24 triumph.

"It was a really crazy game of football," said a rueful Tally after a result which kept Derry without a league point after their defeat in Omagh last weekend.

O'Sullivan's goal came after Derry squandered possession and Kerry's Paudie Clifford then intercepted debutant keeper Neil McNicholl's resultant kickout before the ball was eventually worked Geaney, who netted from close range.

McNicholl plays midfield for his club but was pitched in for his senior inter-county debut in place of Odhran Lynch as Tally opted to work on developing a '12th-man' attacking strategy which had been so effectively employed by Tyrone keeper Niall Morgan against the Oak Leafers in round one.

"We knew from the very start that we were going to have to go with the keeper who was going to come out and add to the team," said the Derry boss.

"In fairness, Neil did very well today. It's a work in progress.

"I'm not going to blame players for it [the late mistakes]. These things happen in games. It's hard on the lads. They know themselves what went on there at the end."

Tally agreed that Derry's next home match against Galway in two weeks is now "so important".

Ciaran McFaul was a late withdrawal from Sunday's side because of a niggle while injured quartet Conor McCluskey, Padraig McGrogan, Gareth McKinless and Niall O'Donnell will not be ready the Galway game.

McCluskey and McGrogan could return to action in late February or early March but Ballinderry duo McKinless and O'Donnell look likely to be ruled out for some time yet.