Quigley proves star turn as Fermanagh march on
NEW Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher took his side a step closer to a possible Dr McKenna Cup coup when they recorded their third successive win by beating Donegal last night.
A superb individual performance by the recently returned Seamus Quigley underpinned the Ernesiders’ success and helped to spawn hopes that better days are ahead for his side.
It was a Quigley goal in the 47th minute that proved crucial in Fermanagh’s 1-13 to 1-10 win, and his seven points — five from frees — further highlighted a stunning solo show.
Donegal strove desperately to salvage the game in the closing stages but Fermanagh shut up shop to march on in some style.
Elsewhere, Armagh staged a late rally to snatch a rather fortuitous division of the spoils against UUJ at the Athletic Grounds.
Armagh looked lively in the early stages, but Jordanstown’s hunger and defiance saw them nose their way back into contention, and with 23 minutes gone the sides were on level terms at 0-3 each.
But if Armagh had carried the bigger threat up until then, it was UUJ who dominated in a lucrative ten-minute spell prior to the break which saw them reach 1-03, Ryan McAnespie hitting 1-01 to complement a brace of points from David Muldrew.
The students were in the ascendency at 1-06 to 0-04 by the half-way stage, and looked even more comfortable at 1-09 to 0-06, but with Rory Grugan in superb form — he got six points in all — the home side hit half-adozen points in the last ten minutes to finish level at 1-09 to 0-12.
Antrim, meanwhile, came a cropper against St Mary’s University College, who were good value for their 4-08 to 0-15 win at Woodlands.
The Saffrons’ defence proved rather too porous as St Mary’s pilfered goals virtually at will with Ciaran MacIomhair (2), Aaron Duffy and Stephen McConville finding the net.
Ryan Murray tried hard to spark Antrim’s resistance and landed four points, but the team paid a heavy price for defensive lapses.
Monaghan, meanwhile, proved too strong for Queen’s at Castleblayney where they won by 2-13 to 0-07, with goals from David Garland and Jack McCarron helping to emphasise their superiority.
Eight Monaghan players in all scored as Queen’s struggled to find their rhythm against a Monaghan side that included several experienced players as manager Malachy O’Rourke focusses on the Allianz League. Star man: Seamus Quigley’s solo show inspired Fermanagh A LATE Niall Toner goal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Derry at a very cold and fog-blanketed Celtic Park.
The win continues new manager Damian McErlain’s unbeaten run, with his young charges only requiring a draw away to Armagh on Sunday to progress to this year’s semi-finals.
Winless Down will rue this fixture as a missed chance having led for almost the entire contest before Toner broke free to drill the home past Shane Harrison.
Goals from Sean Dornan and Kevin McKernan saw Down run in five points up at the break, ahead 2-7 to 0-8.
Down boasted a fairly decent hand so early in the season with the impressive Shay Millar and Kevin McKernan taking the attack to a rookie Derry defence.
The hosts sprinkled a youthful line-up with a few more seasoned performers in the shape of Mark Lynch and Enda Lynn.
Man of the match Lynn took the game by the scruff of the neck after the restart as Derry chipped away at the deficit. Lynch and substitutes James Kielt and Patrick Kearney also scored.
Niall Toner’s late heroics leave Derry on two wins from the opening two games, with an away game to Armagh up next for Damian McErlain’s men.
DERRY:
O Hartin, C McCluskey, L McGoldrick, R Mooney, P Coney, Michael McEvoy, J Curran, J Doherty, C McAtamney, C Doherty, C McFaul 0-1, E Lynn 0-6, N Toner 1-0, P Hagan, M Lynch 0-3.
M Bateson for J Curran (HT), P Keaney 0-1 for C McCluskey (43), J Kielt 0-1f for M Lynch (52), F Higgins for P Hagan (58)
S Harrison, C Flanagan, Gerard McGovern, B McArdle, A Doherty 0-1f, N McParland, C Mooney 0-1, A Morgan 0-1, C Poland, S Millar 0-3, K McKernan 1-2, C Francis, R Millar 0-1, S Dornan 1-0, J Guinness. B O’Hagan for C Francis (42), D O’Hanlon 0-1f for J Guinness (50), C Harrison for S Dornan (57), S Murnin for C Mooney (60), S Murray for R Millar (65)
Anthony Marron (Monaghan)
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DOWN:
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