Diver goal lifts low-key opener

McKENNA CUP (SF): A LOW-KEY opening round Dr McKenna Cup match at Brewster Park yesterday saw the game redeemed by a sharp finish as visiting Derry suddenly jumped into the lead for the first time, on 68 minutes, when Joe Diver smashed home a close-range goal.

Fermanagh, who had led from the outset, where able, however, to pull themselves together for a reply and they earned a deserved draw with a swinging point from far out on the right wing by substitute Ciarán McElroy.

On a day when experimental rules were the big topic, this game saw no noteworthy incidents.

Both sides lost a player under the new yellow-card format as Derry midfielder Niall Bradley and Fermanagh defender Michael Jones were dispatched in a game which was played at only a medium pace.

Fermanagh were the brisker outfit in the first half, two quick points from Enda Ferris and Seamus Ryder getting them up and running and though they didn't keep up the early pace they still had the better of matters, building a five-point lead before Derry finally got off the mark with a 33rd-minute score from Brian Mullin.

After a bright start to the second half Diver should have smacked home a goal from a close-range chance two minutes into the half, but the visitors steadily clipped down the deficit with points from Ciarán Bradley and Paul Bradley.

Fermanagh were struggling to contain the rally and were then hit by the Diver goal but they answered smartly with McElroy's riposte.

FERMANAGH: R Gallagher; S Goan, R Foy, M Jones; D Kelly, P Sherry, P Johnson; R Carson (0-1), J Sherry; P Cadden (0-3), D Kille, R Keenan ; P Ward, S Ryder (0-2), E Ferris (0-3). Subs: E Maguire for Ward, J Connolly for Cadden, S OBrien for Kille, T McElroy for Jones, C McElroy (0-1) for Keenan.

DERRY: S McGuckin; T Walls, P Bradley, D McBride; P Carton, C McKeague, A McAlynn; J Diver (1-0), N Bradley; G McShane, P Bradley (0-2), E Lynn; S Bradley (0-2), K OConnor, C Mullin (0-1). Subs: M Drumm for N Bradley, B McAlary for Walls, B Mullin (0-1) for O'Connor, M McBride for P Bradley, E Brown (0-1) for C Mullin, P Young for McShane.

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).