New Damian Barton game-plan puts Derry on offensive footing

Cavan 1-10 Derry 1-17: Damian Barton’s promise to get Derry taking a more attacking approach looks to be bearing some early season fruit - his newlook side producing the goods in the Athletic Grounds yesterday to reach the McKenna Cup final.

Eight players scored from play in this comfortable win over Cavan, with Ryan Bell notching 1-5. His 21st minute penalty was a decisive score, with the Oak Leafers kicking 1-4 in a six minute spell to seize control.

Cavan had the wind in the first half but that scoring blitz left them chasing the game and they trailed 1-10 to 0-6 at the break. Killian Clarke’s tidy finish from a well-worked move in the 53rd minute was the high point in their much-improved second half, while Eugene Keating and Seanie Johnston kicked their first scores since their return to Breffni colours.