Carlow hurling manager Pat English has described Derry as "the most improved team in the country".

Following his side's hard-fought, narrow, top-of-the-table victory over the improving Oak Leaf County at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon, English told The Derry Journal:

"The opposition we've been playing from the start of the league until now, Derry are a big step up from that. We played the two weaker teams and I have said all along that Derry are the most improved team in the country, at any grade, when it comes to hurling.

"Derry are a big, strong physical team who can hurl and all credit to them. If they get a result next week against Wicklow - which they will do - they could be in a league final, so fair play to them. This is a tough result, a good result for Carlow. We put in a good performance. It is hard to come here to Celtic Park and get a win, get a performance so we will go home happy.

"It would have been a big difference going in four points down compared to the point down that we were. No, Derry played a good brand of hurling, they are strong and well able to hurl. Credit to them. We were at the 'pin of our collar' to get a result."

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