Derry and Antrim through to semis as Breffni eases fixture pile-up

THE NEW 3G Astroturf pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park alleviated some of the congestion in the Dr McKenna Cup over the weekend after a spate of postponements in earlier weeks left the fixtures’ department of the Ulster Council scratching their heads.

Cavan’s county ground played host to two games over the weekend and the competition has finally begun to take shape. Antrim and Derry have qualified for the semi-finals, although the two other places in the last four will not be confirmed until Section A, which includes Tyrone, Donegal, Fermanagh and University of Ulster Jordanstown, is resolved. Fermanagh manager John O’Neill has endured a frustrating start to the new campaign and when Brewster Park in Enniskillen was frozen on Saturday evening, it was the Erne County’s fourth consecutive postponement in the competition. However, an agreement was made to switch to Cavan yesterday evening.

Fermanagh’s Hugh Bradley kicked a last minute point to make it 0-15 to 1-12. UUJ looked to be in control, 1-10 to 0-7 in front at the start of the second period with Mattie Donnelly their goalscorer in first half stoppage time. Tomas Corrigan, who scored five points for Fermanagh, helped salvage a draw, while UUJ’s Jason McAnulla was sent off for two bookings midway through the second half.

Cavan got use of their own facility when they welcomed Queen’s University of Belfast and a 0-12 to 1-4 win marked Val Andrews and Tommy Hyland’s first win in charge since taking over as joint-managers.

A clinging fog was more of a hindrance than the unfamiliar underfoot conditions and the students’ plight was not helped when they lost Joe O’Brien to a red card inside the quarter-hour.

At that stage, Queen’s were in a promising position, 0-4 to 0-1, but five unanswered points as the half came to a close brightened the mood of the home support. Ronan Flanaghan was impressive for the hosts, with five points, and although Niall McKenna scored a cheeky goal for Queen’s from a 13-metre free, it was to be the away team’s only score of the second half as Cavan ran out five-point winners.

Meanwhile, a draw against Antrim and a loss at the hands of Armagh in their opening two fixtures meant that All-Ireland finalists Down’s 2-13 to 0-6 defeat of St Mary’s was insignificant. John Clarke was in fine form for James McCartan’s side, scoring a goal in each half.