CHAMPS ON A FERM FOOTING
Ulster kingpins Derry breeze past Erne to reach semi-finals
ULSTER champions Derry powered past Fermanagh in a no-fuss opening defence of their provincial title at Brewster Park yesterday.
Rory Gallagher’s side scored the opening four points of the game inside six minutes and never looked back.
First-half goals by Shane Mcguigan and Paul Cassidy saw them lead 2-9 to 0-5 at half-time with Fermanagh struggling to contain Derry’s threats all over the park.
The Erne county did put pride back in the jersey in the second half and brought the game – and the crowd – to life with two goals from powerhouse full-back Che Cullen.
However, a Shane Mcguigan penalty just put the game to bed with Derry taking off star men Conor Glass and Chrissy Mckaigue as a precaution as the rain poured down and the ground softened even further. The Oak Leaf men will not have things all their own way in a semi-final against Tyrone or Monaghan but this opener was pretty comfortable for them.
And it was over as a contest long before the half-time whistle had sounded.
Fermanagh went long with their kickouts in the first half and pushed up on Derry but that left them so vulnerable on the counter attack once they got turned over.
There was a memorable and rare point for Derry’s ‘fly keeper’ Oran Lynch who ventured so far out of his goals he was able to chip the ball over the opposing goal from 25 yards.
With Brendan Rogers marauding in midfield and Paul Cassidy outstanding on the transition and carrying so much ball, Derry had all the answers.
Ethan Doherty’s pass put Mcguigan through for the opening goal but it was all about his brilliant turn which outfoxed Erne keeper Sean Mcnally. Ryan Jones and Aidan Breen landed long-range scores for Fermanagh but their forays into Derry’s 45 were all too brief.
Derry raided forward with a second goal by Paul Cassidy, who showed great persistence wriggling out of a couple of tackles to burst through and fire the ball into the far corner of the net.
Fermanagh needed a big total from the pacey Ultan Kelm but they couldn’t get him on the ball enough.
He scored just before half-time but a brace from Mcguigan ahead them by 10 at the break. Cullen blasted in a Fermanagh goal early in the second half but within seconds Derry had the ball in the back of the Erne net to crush any hope of a contest.
Fermanagh switched off for a second, the ball was hoofed straight up the field and Benny Heron was fouled in the square. Mcguigan buried the penalty.
After conceding four goals against Dublin in the recent Division Two final, questions will be asked of the Derry defence after two high balls led to two Fermanagh goals.
Cullen burst through for his second to reduce the gap to 3-10 to 2-6 but Derry outscored Fermanagh by seven points to two in the final quarter.
They had 11 different scorers but will know the bigger tests are to come.
As fore Fermanagh, they have four weeks to press the reset button and get ready for the Tailteann Cup which they will fancy their chances of being competitive in.