Referee labelled pathetic by Derry

Derry ... 0-9 Fermanagh ... 0-9: Galway referee Des Joyce claimed all the headlines at Celtic Park yesterday when he was severely criticised by Derry manager Eamonn Coleman after Derry and Fermanagh ended level.

Coleman claimed Joyce's performance was "pathetic". The Galway official issued seven yellow and two red cards as Fermanagh fought back from a seven-point half-time deficit to draw.

"That was a disgrace and the GAA is going to have to a serious look at the referees they are turning out in this National League. He was a disgrace to both sides," said Coleman afterwards.

"I have a player in the dressing- room requiring stitches and he didn't even get a free for the offence. It was unbelievable, despite the fact that he sent a man off for another player diving. I will state it again, the refereeing was pathetic. People will not listen to me and they will say I am anti-referees, but this was a step too far."

Coleman's comments came after his side had failed to secure a single score in the second half.

Derry took over soon after the opening whistle and went in at the break with a 0-9 to 0-2 interval advantage.

However, Fermanagh dominated in the second half and, with time running out and both sides having been reduced to 14 men with the dismissals of Kevin McCloy and Martin Greene, Derry seemed likely to hold on, until a late Fermanagh attack yielded a point to ensure a share of the spoils.

DERRY: S McGuckin; D O'Neill, K McCloy, S M Lockhart; B Mullan, K McNally, G Doherty; F Doherty, D Dougan; E Burns (0-1), J McBride (0-2), J Niblock; P Bradley (0-3), G McGonigle (0-1), G Diamond (0-2). Subs. F McEldowney for Lockhart (14 mins); A Tohill for Dougan (55).

FERMANAGH: D Feeley; K Gunn, P McGuinness, M Lilly; S Burns (0-1), J Gilheaney, N Cox; M Greene, L McBarron; R Johnston, M McGrath (0-1), T Brewster (0-3); K Donnelly, R Gallagher (0-4), C Bradley. Subs. B Owens for Gunn (18 mins); R McCabe for Donnelly (49); S McCabe for Bradley (63); N Keenan for Burns (70).

Referee: D Joyce (Galway).