Fermanagh seal semi-final spot with Derry victory

Fermanagh 2-18 Derry 4-07

It was a much tighter affair than the Ulster Junior final in May, but Fermanagh eventually fought off Derry’s advances to seal their spot in the All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-final.

Bronagh Smyth’s goal on the stroke of half-time turned Derry’s five-point lead to two going into the break and a strong start to the second half saw CJ McGourty’s side go in front and they held on to that lead despite their opponents finding another two goals in the final 20 minutes.

Eimear Smyth opened and closed Fermanagh’s scoring in Brewster Park on Wednesday evening as she finished with 0-14 in another stunning individual display.

She fisted over a point in the sixth minute after opening her account between frees from Derry’s Emma Doherty to make it 0-02 apiece.

Leah McMonagle then pointed with Smyth hitting three in a row at the other end.

Doherty tapped over another free before the Oak-leaf County struck for their first goal as Dara McKeever spun around goalkeeper Megan Maguire and tapped the ball into the net.

Doherty and Lea Casey added to that with Bláithín Bogue hitting the inside of the goal post after a mazy run.

Another Smyth free was followed by another Derry goal. Full-forward Cara Donnelly played through McMonagle and she rounded Maguire to find the net.

Fermanagh’s response was crucial as Smyth tagged on another free before sending a ball into Bronagh Smyth who rocketed the ball into the top right corner of the net, on the stroke of half-time, to leave the score at 2-06 to 1-07.

McGourty’s frustration was visible on the sideline in the first-half but his half-time team talk seemed to have the desired effect as his side hit the first six scores in the opening 11 minutes.

Bogue, Brenda Bannon, Smyth (3) and half-time substitute Danielle McBrien were all on target.

However, there was still plenty of fight left in Derry. McMonagle flashed a shot across goal into the bottom left corner to make it 1-13 to 3-06.

Smyth kicked another free with Bogue then providing the second goal as she blocked down a Derry defender and ran through to blast the ball into the net.

Bogue was then shown a yellow card with five minutes to go, after two Smyth points, to leave the Erne side with 14 players to close out the game.

Damian McCaffrey’s side took advantage of that as half-back Ciara McGurk ran through and shot low to the net to make it 2-16 to 4-06 with a few minutes to go.

McBrien sent over another quality effort off the left foot.

The sides then traded scores to close the game in injury time.

McMonagle’s point was followed with a classy run from Smyth who turned her marker inside out before concluding the contest by splitting the posts.

Fermanagh: Megan Maguire, Stephanie Gunn, Molly McGloin, Eimear Keenan, Shannan McQuade, Courteney Murphy, Lisa Maguire, Brenda Bannon (0-01), Cadhla-Cara Bogue, Niamh McManus, Joanne Doonan, Aoife McCabe, Bláithín Bogue (1-01), Eimear Smyth (0-14, 7f), Bronagh Smyth (1-00).

Subs: Danielle McBrien (0-02) for McManus (HT), Eimear McMahon for McCabe (52), Sarah Rose Britton for B Smyth (58), Roisin O’Reilly for Gunn (58).

Derry: Ellie Conway, Hannah Mullan, Aoife McGough, Joanne Corr, Blaithin Donnelly, Ciara McGurk (1-00), Sarah Hargan, Caoimhe O’Kane, Lea Casey (0-01), Erin Doherty, Dara McKeever (1-00), Anna Martin, Emma Doherty (0-03, 3f), Cara Donnelly, Leah McGonagle (2-03).

Subs: Katy Holly for Casey (42), Orlaith McGough for Corr (50).

Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Donegal).