Dr McKenna Cup wins for Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone

Derry became the first team to advance to the Dr McKenna Cup final, while elsewhere in the competition last night Fermanagh and Tyrone claimed wins.

At Celtic Park, goals were the difference as John Brennan's Derry side beat Antrim 2-14 to 0-14.

Sean Leo McGoldrick (24 minutes) and Paddy Bradley (28) were the vital scores in a tightly-contested encounter. The brace of goals helped Derry to a 2-7 to 0-8 interval lead.

Paddy Cunningham kept the Saffrons in touch with four first half points, with Brendan Herron, Tony Scullion and CJ McGourty also amongst the visitors' scorers. But Liam Bradley's charges failed to score between the 15th and 32nd minutes.

The sides were well matched in the ten-minute spell after the break, with Derry's goals continuing to provee the difference. A brace of Mark Dougan scores and a Cunningham free cut the deficit with 15 minutes remaining, but Derry kept on top.

Derry will be hoping to annex their first McKenna Cup title since 1999 in the February 19 decider, while Antrim's wait for their first title since 1981 continues.

Meanwhile, Cavan will meet Tyrone in the second semi-final, after Donegal were denied a place in the last-four. They suffered a 0-12 to 0-7 loss to Fermanagh at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey.

The three in-a-row chasers were made pay by a fired-up Erne County side, who were registering their first win of the competition. Fermanagh led by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time with Paul McGrath among their scores.

Adrian O'Hanlon and Marty Boyle helped keep Donegal in touch, but the experimental Tir Chonaill side failed to do enough on the restart.

Barry Owens and Peter Sherry performed strongly for Fermanagh, and James Corrigan, Paul Ward and Tomas Corrigan also impressed.

Meanwhile, Tyrone maintained their winning start to the season with a 1-18 to 2-11 victory over UUJ at Healy Park in Omagh.

Brian McGuigan bagged the only goal for the Red Hands, midway through the second half. The sides were evenly matched in the opening half, during which Tyrone native Mattie Donnelly netted for the students in the 13th minute.

However, Tyrone stole the lead thanks to the efforts of Sean Cavanagh. Mickey Harte's men fought their way to a 0-10 to 1-6 interval advantage.

Caolan O'Boyle fisted home UUJ's second goal on the restart, but Tyrone regained the initiative with McGuigan's goal ensuring their third win in seven hectic days.