If Fermanagh were going to cause an upset on Saturday, they needed the kind of start Derry made in Brewster Park.
Within 45 seconds, Eoin McEvoy fisted the ball over Sean McNally’s crossbar. With five minutes gone, Derry were 0-4 to no-score ahead with Padraig McGrogan, goalkeeper Odhran Lynch and Paul Cassidy adding further points from play.
Even before the goals came, there was a sense that Derry were always going to have too much for Fermanagh and so it proved.
Read more: Fermanagh vs Derry: Player ratings from Saturday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final
Shane McGuigan scored 2-5, including a second half penalty while Cassidy plundered his side’s second goal.
Despite a second half brace from Che Cullen, Fermanagh fell to a 12-point loss and Rory Gallagher felt getting a good start was key for his side.
“We started the game at a real good intensity,” said Gallagher.
“I suppose when you feel you’re better than the other team it’s important to do. Perhaps Fermanagh would have been coming to try to hang in the game, but we blew it open very early.
“We wanted to hit ground running and take the lead because it makes the game more on your terms.
"We knew they were going to target Gareth (McKinless), come out pushing and shoving at Shane (McGuigan) and players like that, Paul Cassidy and Ethan (Doherty), but the other players came up the field who maybe don’t get the same attention and it’s good to have boys in sync with what they need to do when that happens.”
Fermanagh’s two goals arrived during a frantic five-minute spell in the second half when McGuigan also converted a penalty.
Che Cullen had roamed forward by that stage and was on hand to finish both times after Derry had failed to clear their lines.
Gallagher said he was disappointed by the concession of the two goals, but felt Derry’s structure forced Fermanagh to go direct.
“I’m I overly concerned? No, but I’m disappointed yeah. They were long balls played in and Che Cullen got them both,” added Gallagher.
“We would take comfort from the fact that Fermanagh resorted to that quite early on. They were struggling to break us down and they weren’t going to get a goal any other way.
“I don’t see Tyrone or Monaghan going with that game plan. If they do, we’ll have to handle it better. Even though we lost the breaks, it shouldn't have ended up in the net but it did.”
Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly admitted that his side were second best on the day, but he took issue with the decision to award Benny Heron a penalty after Declan McCusker made contact with the Derry attacker in the second half.
“I felt it was a really harsh penalty to be honest,” stated Donnelly.
“God. . . we need all the calls we can get. I thought that was one that was a real easy one.
“Look, it wasn’t the losing of the game, but it would have given us a bit of momentum if they hadn't gotten a goal after it (Cullen’s first goal).
“It was a real sucker blow after it.”
“Look, they are a Division One team. They are Ulster champions and that’s the level they are at and we just have to keep aspiring to be better.”
Donnelly added that his team will regroup for their forthcoming Tailteann Cup campaign and feels the addition of a group format will benefit teams in this year’s competition.
“I have urged the boys that we had a good League, let’s go at the Tailteann, and they will. They very much have a pride in wearing the Fermanagh jersey, they are a young squad.
“We have to regroup and approach the Tailteann Cup with positivity.
"It’s a brilliant competition. The boys are at the stage where they want to be winning games and winning Championship games.
"The fact that there are group stages it gives our boys a bit more exposure to championship football so I think it is brilliant for the boys.”
READ NEXT:
- Recap as Shane McGuigan brace helps Derry defeat Fermanagh in Ulster SFC quarter-final
- Tyrone vs Monaghan: Team news and five keys battles which could decider Sunday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final
Kyle Coney insists Tyrone always believe they are genuine All-Ireland contenders
-
Antrim Club Championship draws 2023: Hurling rivals kept apart as pairings revealed
Casement Park included in EURO 2028 bid dossier but Croke Park omitted from final list of stadia
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
