There may have been eight points separating the sides at the finish but that was not a fair reflection on this game as a whole with the Oak Leaf hitting a flurry of scores late on to seal the win.

Indeed, up to that point Fermanagh, while always behind, were right in contention with a battling second half display seeing them cut the gap back to three points before Derry bagged a late 1-02.

“As with all our games we seem to get stronger in the second half and I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game,” said Fermanagh joint manager Tony Collins.

“I can’t fault the effort of the boys we just need that wee bit more composure and that will come experience as this is a young squad that we have.”

And Collins says that the full focus is now on that championship encounter against Down next Saturday.

“That’s all we are thinking about now and we have plenty of work to get done between now an then. It will be a big day for the lads in front of a home crowd at Brewster Park and one they should look forward too,” he added.

There was little between the sides in the first 25 minutes of the contest in Roslea on Sunday with Derry holding a 0-05 to 003 advantage at that stage.

Mattie McDermott, Cian O’Brien and Keelan Fitzpatrick registered points for the Ernemen as they held their own.

However, the closing five minutes of the half saw Derry fire over an unanswered four points to move into a 0-09 to 0-03 lead at the break.

Fermanagh though responded well in the second half and with Ben Warnock, Conor O’Hanlon, Oisin Toye and Cian O’Brien (2) all among the points it left three between the sides and all to play for, 0-11 to 0-08.

However, Derry hit that late burst to seal win.

The game was blown up early after an injury to Fermanagh Dylan Boyle but Collins says that they have received good news on the extent of the knock.

“We were worried that it might have been a break but thankfully it’s not and hopefully he is going to be alright,” he said.