Early advance aids Derry

McKenna Cup Semi-final/ Derry 0-12 Fermanagh 0-8: Derry will meet holders Tyrone in the Dr McKenna Cup final on February 20th, thanks to their four-point win over Fermanagh in Omagh yesterday.

A Healy Park crowd of around 5,000 saw Fermanagh stage a spirited second-half fightback, but their lack of scoring power saw them fall short.

The advantage of a strong breeze helped Derry build up a healthy lead, and manager Mickey Moran must have been delighted to see his forwards knock over 11 first-half points.

Conleth Gilligan combined the roles of playmaker and finisher, hitting the target three times, while Paul Bradley notched four.

Raymond Johnston scored Fermanagh's opening point in the 14th minute and there were further points from Mark Little and Rory Gallagher.

Derry finished the half strongly and points from Eamon Burke and Johnny McBride helped them to a 0-11 to 0-3 interval lead.

Derry managed just one second-half point, but their defence, with Seán Marty Lockhart and Niall McCusker in fine form, limited their opponents to five scores.

Enda Ferris, Aidan Little and Mark Little were all on target, but Fermanagh never looked like getting the goal they needed.

Derry suffered a blow in the closing stages when midfielder Patsy Bradley received a straight red card, so he will miss the clash with Meath in the opening game of the league next Sunday.

DERRY: B Gillis; K McGuckin, N McCusker, D Scullion; C McWilliams, SM Lockhart (0-1), P Kelly; Patsy Bradley, J McBride (0-2); Paul Murphy (0-1), C Gilligan (0-3), Paul Bradley (0-4, three frees); Padraig Murphy, E Burke (0-1), P McFlynn. Subs: J Donaghy for Padraig Murphy, S Kelly for McCusker, E Bradley for Paul Murphy, Paddy Bradley for Paul Bradley.

FERMANAGH: N Tinney; S Goan, H Brady, M Lilly; R Johnston (0-2), S McDermott, S Burns; L McBarron, M Murphy; E Maguire, M Little (0-2), C Boyle; E Ferris (0-1), Rory Gallagher (0-2), Aidan Little (0-1, free). Subs: F Reilly for McBarron, S Doherty for Boyle, R McCluskey for Lilly, B Owens for Goan, C Bradley for Maguire.

Referee: C Brady (Down).