Fermanagh 2-08 Dery 3-17

 

Fermanagh made their exit from the Ulster Championship following a heavy defeat to a quality Derry side at Brewster Park on Saturday evening.

Reigning Ulster champions Derry took control of the contest right from the first minute and never really looked troubled as they eased to the victory.

Shane McGuigan and Paul Cassidy bagged first half goals for the Oak Leaf outfit and by the break they had built up a commanding ten point advantage, 2-09 to 0-05.

Fermanagh did battle hard in the second half and Che Cullen fired home two goals for the home side but McGuigan netted his second from the penalty spot as Derry cruised through to the semi-finals.

Rory Gallagher's visitors made a strong start to the contest as Eoin McEvoy fisted over the opening score after only 46 seconds while Padraig McGrogan, Odhran Lynch and Paul Cassidy all landed scores as they moved into a 0-04 to 0-00 lead by the sixth minute.

Fermanagh got off the mark in the tenth minute through a fine Ryan Jones effort before Conor Glass and Ryan Lyons then swapped points.

Just when it looked as if Fermanagh were settling into the game though Derry swooped for their first goal as Ethan Doherty fed the excellent Shane McGuigan who spun Che Cullen and blasted to the net.

Fermanagh replied with a point from Aidan Breen but McGuigan clipped over a free and Ethan Doherty slotted over a point from free before Derry took the game well out of Fermanagh's reach in the 26th minute as they bagged their second goal. Paul Cassidy won possession 50 metres from goal and he powered through a challenge before racing in on goal. Lee Cullen looked to have averted the danger when he broke the ball away from Cassidy but the ball fell kindly for the Derry attacker who tucked it to the net to make it 2-07 to 0-03.

Fermanagh continued to battle and Lyons converted a free after a foul off the ball on Brandon Horan while the lively Ultan Kelm showed a clean pair of heels on the right before clipping over.

It was McGuigan though who had the last say of the half as he notched two points from play to leave ten in it at the interval, 2-09 to 0-05.

The lead was out to 11 on the resumption as Brendan Rodgers knocked over but Fermanagh kept battling and Kelm rattled over a fine score before Che Cullen plundered his first goal.

Cian McManus' long ball was broke to Cullen and he finished well past Derry goalkeeper Lynch.

However, Derry's response was immediate as they hit right back with a goal of their own. A quick break down the pitch from the restart saw Niall Toner put Benny Heron in on goal and referee Joe McQuillan adjudged that he was fouled. McGuigan stepped up to send Erne goalkeeper Sean McNally the wrong way from the spot kick to make it 2-10 to 1-06.

Fermanagh though replied with their second goal as Ronan McCaffrey laid the ball off to Cullen and he powered his way through before finishing well to the back of the net.

Derry though settled things down again after this as they regained the initiative and they registered the next five points with Padraig Cassidy, McGuigan and Conor McCluskey among the scorers.

Fermanagh did have late scores through a McNally 45 and Declan McCusker but with Paul Cassidy and McGuigan knocking over points Derry ran put comfortable 12 point winners.

 

 

 

Fermanagh: S McNally (0-01, 45); L Flanagan; C Cullen (2-00); C McManus; J Cassidy; S McGullion; L Cullen; R Jones (0-01); B Horan; A Breen (0-01); R Lyons (0-02, 2f); R McCaffrey; U Kelm (0-02); D McGurn; J Largo-Elis. Subs: D McCusker (0-01) for Breen (h/t); C McShea for Horan (h/t); C Jones for McManus (53); G Jones for Lyons (62); F O’Brien for Largo-Elis (68); 

 

Derry: O Lynch (0-01); C McKaigue; P McGrogan (0-01); C McCluskey (0-01); C Doherty; G McKinless; P Cassidy (0-02); C Glass (0-01); B Rogers (0-01); N Toner (0-01); P Cassidy (1-02); E Doherty (0-01); E McEvoy (0-01); S McGuigan (2-05 pen, 2f); N Loughlin. Subs: P McNeil for McEvoy (58); B Heron for Glass (40); B McCarron for McKaigue (62); L Murray for Loughlin (67); D Cassidy for Toner (70);

 

Referee: Joe McQuillan