Derry comeback falls just short
DERRY 3-8 FERMANAGH 1-16
DERRY fell just short against Fermanagh at Brewster Park as the home side held on for a two-point win with the Oakleaf men coming back from nine down at half-time to almost take something from the game.
Mark Lynch and James Kielt scored two goals in as many minutes to give them hope but in the end they ran out of time as Fermanagh were able to break away for vital scores from Paul McCusker and Cian McManus.
Seamus Quigley lit up the first half with 1-6. Five frees, a glorious 45’ and an audacious goal on the 12-minute mark had the Fermanagh fans on their feet.
Fermanagh were on top all over the pitch in that opening half with Derry chasing shadows. When the visitors did eventually get on the scoreboard it was through Lynch frees and it was a quickly taken placed ball from Lynch that put Emmett Bradley in for a goal. FeRMANAgh: P Cadden, M Jones, C Cullen, C McManus, B Mulrone, C Magee (L Cullen 54), D McCusker, E Donnelly, R Jones, P McCusker (R McCluskey 58), C Corrigan, A Breen (R Lyons 71), D Teague (R Corrigan BC, h-t), C Jones (S Quigley 64), S Quigley (T Corrigan 58). ScOReRS: S Quigley 1-8 (6f, 1 ’45), B Mulrone, A Breen, C Corrigan, C Jones, E Donnelly, D McCusker, C McManus, P McCusker 0-1. DeRRY: B McKinless, M McEvoy, K Johnston, J Curran (C McLuskey 37), M Bateson (P Hagan 55), C McWilliams, C Doherty (B Herron 49), C McAtamney, E Bradley (D Tallon h-t), P Mac Grogan, E Lynn, J Kielt, M Lynch, T O’Brien, N Toner. ScOReRS: M Lynch 1-3 (0-3f), J Kielt 1-2 (0-2f), E Bradley 1-0, E Lynn, T O’Brien, P MacGrogan 0-1. ReFeRee: P Hughes (Armagh).