Fermanagh hammer Derry to lift Ulster Junior title

Fermanagh 6-14 Derry 0-10

Fermanagh Ladies were in rampant form as they overcame the challenge of Derry to lift the Ulster Junior Championship last Saturday.

From the outset, the Erne ladies showed their intent. They pressed high on Derry's kick outs and trusted their defenders to curtail any danger from the Oak Leaf County.

Derry did look more dangerous in the second half but the game was out of reach at that stage.

It was Derry who would have the first sight of goal but Caoimhe O'Kane fired straight at Fermanagh goalkeeper Megan Maguire.

But from then on, Fermanagh dominated as they hit 1-03 on the bounce.

Bláithín Bogue grabbed the first two points after good team moves before Molly McGloin, who was playing higher up the pitch compared to her usual full-back spot, also pointed.

With six minutes played, Fermanagh pressure on a Derry kick out saw the ball reach McGloin and she played a super ball into Bláithín Bogue who fired to the net via the crossbar.

Derry got their first point of the game two minutes later as Emma Doherty played a quick free to Erin Doherty who returned the pass for the corner forward to fire over.

But this was cancelled out by Aoife McCabe's first score of the game before Emma Doherty and Eimear Smyth traded frees.

Lisa Maguire got in front of a Derry player to steal the ball and score and Cadhla-Cara Bogue made it 1-07 to 0-03 with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

Fermanagh's second goal came shortly after as Bláithín Bogue found Smyth and she fired past Ellie Conway. This again coming from a high Fermanagh press.

Derry had a rare foray forward and a sight of goal but the shot from Dara McKeever came back off the post, with the rebound then going wide.

And Fermanagh showed Derry how to be clinical in front of goal as McCabe got on the end of a flowing move to fire the ball to the net. And the same player pointed in the next attack.

The half ended with two frees from Emma Doherty for Derry either side of a fantastic Danielle McBrien point as the break came with Fermanagh leading 3-09 to 0-04.

Despite that huge lead, Fermanagh did not let up and with 45 seconds of the second half played, they got their fourth goal.

McBrien sent the ball long and was won by Smyth who was fouled. She took a quick free to Maguire who fired across the Derry keeper and into the top corner.

Two Emma Doherty frees and a Megan Devine point from play was Derry's best spell in front of goals but Fermanagh were able to stop the run of points through a Bláithín Bogue score on the run after another flowing team move.

McKeever for Derry and Maguire for Fermanagh traded scores before a fifth goal arrived.

Derry keeper Conway's attempted pass was a poor one and McCabe pounced before having the easiest of finishes to make it 5-11 to 0-08 with 15 minutes to play.

And despite Fermanagh being reduced to 13 players for a time following yellow cards to Eimear Smyth and McBrien, they never looked in trouble.

Over the remainder of the game, Emma Doherty converted frees for Derry while Fermanagh had scores from Smyth, Maguire and fine points from substitute Eimear McMahon before Smyth wrapped up the scoring with a sixth and final goal just before the buzzer sounded.