Terry Hyland happy as Cavan control derby battle

Fermanagh 0-9 Cavan 1-12: Cavan boss Terry Hyland lauded the strength of his panel as his side boosted their promotion hopes with a convincing victory over neighbours Fermanagh on Saturday night.

In front of 5,158 fans at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, the Breffni blues led for all but three minutes of the tie as they punctured Fermanagh’s proud home record with all the ease suggested by the final scoreline.

“I thought we were always in control; the conditions were good and the game showed up the strength of our panel right now,” Cavan boss Terry Hyland enthused.

“With Fermanagh not having lost at home in the last 11 games, it was always going to be a tough game but the lads performed extremely well and those who were introduced helped a lot in putting the tie to bed.

“It’s only March though and we’re not looking too far ahead of ourselves. Our focus now will be on our next game against Laois and we’ll think of Galway after we get that one out of the way.”

Hyland’s opposite number, Peter McGrath, surprisingly kept go-to forward Sean Quigley on the bench until the 44th minute and by then the visitors were 0-8 to 0-5 in front and eyeing a vital victory.

Quigley did manage to fire over two frees but the fact that team-mate Aiden Breen was the only Ernesider to score from play said much about the hosts’ impotency in the final third of the pitch.

For their part, Cavan were far more efficient going forward even though it took a smartly-taken goal by Seanie Johnston in the 48th minute to put some real daylight (1-8 to 0-5) between the sides.

With the hosts’ reliance on Tomás Corrigan’s free-taking ability, Cavan’s lead was never seriously threatened with their full-back line particularly impressive.

In perfect conditions, a cloud of inevitability hung over proceedings following Johnston’s major with Cavan’s grip on the tie being strengthened as both camps emptied their benches in the dregs of the game.

Scorers for Fermanagh:

T Corrigan (0-6, all frees), S Quigley (0-2, 2f), A Breen (0-1)

Scorers for Cavan:

S Johnston (1-2), G McKiernan (0-4, 2f), R Galligan, P Faulkner, T Corr, J McLoughlin, D Givney, M Argue (0-1 each).

FERMANAGH:

C Snow; M Jones, C Cullen, N Cassidy; P Reihill, J McMahon, A Breen (0-1); E Donnelly, R O’Callaghan; B Mulrone, R Corrigan, D McCusker; P McCusker, R Jones, T Corrigan (0-6, all frees).

Subs:

M O’Brien for P Reihill (42); S Quigley for R Corrigan (44); C Jones For P McCusker (63); R McCluskey for N Cassidy (66); D Kelly for R O’Callaghan (B.C 68).

CAVAN:

R Galligan; J McLoughlin, K Clarke, P Faulkner; K Brady, C Moynagh, K Brady; L Buchanan, T Corr; D McVeety, G McKiernan, M Reilly; D Givney, M Argue, S Johnston.

Subs:

N Murray for K Brady (34); C Mackey for N Murray (B.C, 43); P O’Connor for M Argue (60); R Dunne for L Buchannan (63); J Hayes for S Johnston (66); B Sankey for G McKiernan (72).

Ref:

C Brannigan (Down).