ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL

Derry 3-17
Fermanagh 2-8

By Michael McMullan

DERRY eased their way to a semi-final clash with Tyrone or Monaghan with victory over Fermanagh in Brewster Park on Saturday evening.

The champions were out of the blocks with an Eoin McEvoy point on his debut after 43 seconds.

Paudi McGrogan, ‘keeper Odhran Lynch and Paul Cassidy hit points before Ryan Jones scored the Erne opener in the tenth minute.

Ultan Kelm was causing problems with his pace, but Derry were collectively sound with Gareth McKinless pushing up on Fermanagh’s Josh Largo Elis.

McGuigan cracked home a fourth goal of the season to open a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after 13 minutes.

Paul Cassidy waltzed through for a Derry second goal on the way to a 2-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

Che Cullen hit a goal for Fermanagh in the 43^rd minute, but Derry worked the ball from the kick-out and they went on the attack with Benny Heron fouled and McGuigan converted his third penalty of 2023.

Conor Glass was replaced as a precaution and Cullen added a second goal to make the score 3-10 to 2-6.

Conor McCluskey, Derry’s 11^th scorer of the day, curled over his first of the season as Derry quickly cancelled Fermanagh’s second goal.

Padraig Cassidy (2) and Niall Toner added points as Derry eased to the last four

SCORERS:
Derry: Shane McGuigan 2-5 (1 pen, 1f), Paul Cassidy 1-2, Padraig Cassidy 0-2, Conor McCluskey, Paudi McGrogan, Conor Glass, Eoin McEvoy, Niall Toner, Odhran Lynch, Brendan Rogers and Ethan Doherty 0-1 each

Fermanagh: Che Cullen (2-0), Ultan Kelm 0-2, Ryan Lyons 0-2f, Sean McNally (45), Ryan Jones, Aidan Breen and Declan McCusker 0-1 each

TEAMS
Derry: Odhran Lynch; Chrissy McKaigue, Paudi McGrogan, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig Cassidy; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Eoin McEvoy, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin
Subs: Benny Heron for C Glass (41), Paul McNeill for Eoin McEvoy (58), Ben McCarron for C McKaigue (62), Lachlan Murray for N Loughlin (68), Declan Cassidy for N Toner (71)

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Che Cullen, Cian McManus; Johnny Cassidy, Shane McGullion, Lee Cullen; Ryan Jones, Brandon Horan; Aidan Breen, Ryan Lyons, Ronan McCaffrey; Ultan Kelm, Darragh McGurn, Josh Largo Ellis

Subs: Conor McShea for A Breen (HT), Declan McCusker for B Horan (HT), Conal Jones for C McManus (53), Garvan Jones for R Lyons (62), Fionan O’Brien for J Largo Elis (69)

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)