Cavan 0-11 Fermanagh 3-17

Fermanagh sailed through to the quarter finals of the Conor McGurk Cup with a resounding 3-17 to 0-11 victory over Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park 3G on Tuesday night.

Playing against the breeze in the first half, Fermanagh went in at the break with a one-point advantage, 1-08 to 0-10, the key score of the opening 35 minutes arriving in the shape of a Jimmy Tormey goal.

And they went on to dictate matters in the second half, restricting Cavan to a single point as goals from Danny Teague and Luca McCusker saw them run out comfortable winners as they set up a quarter final clash against Ulster University on Saturday at Jordanstown.

It was an evenly contested opening spell to the game as the sides shared the first four points; Diarmaid Carney and Colum Sheanon on target for the home side, while Luca McCusker and Sean Corrigan replied for Fermanagh.

The Ernemen though then swooped for the only goal of the half in the 11th minute as Tormey rounded Niall Clerkin in the Cavan goal and slotted to the net to make it 1-02 to 0-03.

Thomas Leonard and Caolan Duffy then exchanged points, but the Breffnimen followed up with four points in a row to get their noses in front.

James Smith landed two points from play while Canice Maher and Carney converted frees for the home side, who were enjoying the better of things at this stage.

Fermanagh did level through a McCusker free but Maher replied with a long-range free while Leonard had an effort that bounced over the bar to put Cavan two in front, 0-09 to 1-04.

However, it was Joe Baldwin’s Fermanagh side who were to finish the half the stronger with the impressive Danny Teague rattling over a fine score before a terrific pass from Ryan Bogue picked out McCusker, who slotted over the equaliser.

Teague then fired over the next two points to put Fermanagh two in front, and although Carney clipped over a free for Cavan late in the half, Fermanagh went in at the interval with a slender lead.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Fermanagh were much more direct in their approach and they moved two ahead as Corrigan notched his second point of the game.

And the gap was out to five by the 44th minute as Teague’s long-range effort was spilled into the net by Clerkin as Fermanagh made it 2-09 to 0-10.

The away side continued to control the game as they further extended their lead through points from a McCusker free, Corrigan and lovely point from Teague after linking up with Duffy.

Cavan registered their one and only point of the half in the 59th minute through a Mark Moffett free, while Fermanagh were then reduced to 14 men when substitute JP McGarry was Red Carded.

However, with Ciaran Breslin and Thomas Cleary putting in good shifts in the middle of the park, the Ernemen soon regained the initiative as they finished the game with an unanswered 1-05.

McCusker bagged Fermanagh’s third goal of the contest in the 63rd minute with a good run and finish and David Kelly and Breslin then rattled over good scores for the visitors.

And McCusker accounted for the final three points of the half for Fermanagh with two frees and one from play as Baldwin’s side finished up 3-17 to 0-11 victors.