GAA: Derry too strong for Fermanagh in Ulster opener

Derry began the defence of their Ulster SFC title in style, as they defeated Fermanagh 3-17 to 2-8 at Brewster Park on Saturday evening, in front of almost 7,000 spectators.

Shane McGuigan was inspired, and he led the scoring charts with 2-5, Brendan Rogers was dominant in midfield, and Derry’s highlight of the match came 10 minutes before half-time, when Paul Cassidy netted an outstanding solo goal.

Chrissy McKaigue and Conor Glass also both started the game before being taken off in the second half. Both players were injury doubts ahead of the game.

Derry grabbed the first point of the game in the first minute, with championship debutant Eoin McEvoy fisting the ball over, and this set the tone for a fast start.

Padraig McGrogan added to their lead, before attacking goalkeeper Odhran Lynch pointed from play, and Paul Cassidy made it 0-4 to 0-0, with Fermanagh struggling to settle into the game.

Ryan Jones and Ryan Lyons thought they had settled the Ernemen down with points either side of a Conor Glass score, but on 13 minutes, McGuigan broke free from the clutches of Ché Cullen and buried the ball low and hard into the net.

Aidan Breen’s point was then cancelled out by a McGuigan free and a Ethan Doherty point, before Derry raised their second green flag.

Lynch picked out Paul Cassidy with a pass through both Cian McManus and Lee Cullen, and Cassidy did the rest, storming forward 50 metres on an incredible solo run, which finished with him slotting the ball home to make it 2-7 to 0-3 on 26 minutes.

In the closing stages of the opening half, Lyons and Ultan Kelm scored for Fermanagh, but McGuigan was on fire, and he pointed twice in quick succession to have Derry ahead by 10 at the break.

Derry picked up where they left off with the superb Rogers opening their second half account, before Kelm replied for Fermanagh.

There were then three goals scored in a manic four minutes, as the hosts were determined not to go down without a fight.

The first came when McManus’ blocked shot dropped into the hands of Ché Cullen, and he drove the ball home from close range.

However, Derry had an immediate reply, as their kick-out was worked all the way through to Benny Heron, who was brought down by Declan McCukser for a penalty, which McGuigan converted.

But Fermanagh had a response of their own, as another high ball caused chaos in the Derry backline, and Ché Cullen, was once again on hand to find the back of the net, making it 2-6 to 3-10.

Derry settled back down though, and five points on the spin via Conor McCluskey, Padraig Cassidy (two), McGuigan and Niall Toner put Fermanagh’s fightback to bed.

The home side grabbed their first score in 15 minutes, when goalkeeper Sean McNally converted from a ‘45, before Paul Cassidy replied, and Fermanagh’s McCusker and Derry’s McGuigan traded points to close out the scoring.

In the last four, Derry will meet the winners of tomorrow’s quarter-final clash between Tyrone and Monaghan.

MATCH STATS

FERMANAGH: S McNally (0-1, 1’45); L Flanagan, C Cullen (2-0), C McManus; J Cassidy, S McGullion, L Cullen; R Jones (0-1), B Horan; A Breen (0-1), R Lyons (0-2, 2f), R McCaffrey; U Kelm (0-2), D McGurn, J Largo Ellis.

Subs: C McShea for Breen (HT), D McCusker (0-1) for Horan (HT), C Jones for McManus (54), G Jones for Lyons (62), F O’Brien for Largo Ellis (69).

DERRY: O Lynch (0-1); C McKaigue, P McGrogan (0-1), C McCluskey (0-1); C Doherty, G McKinless, P Cassidy (0-2); C Glass (0-1), B Rogers (0-1); N Toner (0-1), P Cassidy (1-2), E Doherty (0-1); E McEvoy (0-1), S McGuigan (2-5, 2f, 1pen), N Loughlin.

Subs: B Heron for Glass (41), P McNeil for McEvoy (59), B McCarron for McKaigue (62), L Murray for Loughlin (68), D Cassidy for Toner (70).

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).

Attendance: 6,928.