Derry 1-14

Fermanagh 1-11

Derry will defend their Ulster U20 football championship title in next Sunday's decider at the Athletic Grounds.

Mickey Donnelly's side await the winners of tomorrow's semi-final between Cavan and Tyrone after seeing off Fermanagh in their last-four clash this evening.

With five minutes of additional time played, the holders endured a nervy finish at Healy Park where Fermanagh had a late goal chance through Dara McBrien cleared off the line.

Buoyed by their win over Donegal seven days ago, Fermanagh trailed by the minium at the break, 0-7 to 0-6 with Conleth McShane, a late chnage to the Derry starting 15, having the final say of the half.

Derry were quickly out of the blocks on the resumption and scored 1-1 in the first couple of minutes, but Fermanagh responded almost immediately with a goal of their own -  a punched effort by Cameron McBrien.

Points from Fintan Bradley, McShane, Alex Doherty, goalscorer Declan Cassidy and Paul Cassidy helped Derry into a 1-14 a 1-9 lead and what seemed to be a commanding position with four minutes remaining.

They lost full-back Conor McCluskey to a second yellow card moments before John Reihill sent over a brace of frees to make it a three-point game.
 
Fermanagh went in search of an equaliser with Dara McBrien coming so close to forcing extra-time but Derry hung on.

Derry - O Hartin; O McGill, C McCluskey, S McKeever; D Cassidy (1-2), P McGrogan, F Bradley (0-2'45); D Rafferty, K Friel; C McShane (0-3), M McGrogan, S McErlain; L McWilliams (0-4, 3f), T McHugh, P Cassidy (0-2). Subs: A Doherty (0-1) for L McWilliams, E Doherty for T McHugh, E Mulholland for P Cassidy, J McAtamney for C McShane.

Fermanagh - C Newman; E Shiels, J Cassidy, F Keenan; U Kelm, J Largo Ellis (0-1), R Breen; E Beacom, B Horan; C McBrien (1-1), C Jones (0-1), D McBrien (0-1); C Love, S Cassidy, D McGurn (0-5f). Subs: P Breen for U Kelm, J Reihill (0-2f) for J Cassidy, L Owens for C Jones, C McNally for C Love, M Dixon for C McBrien.

Referee - N McKenna.

Join the hoganstand.com match tracker this weekend for live coverage of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers and the hurling preliminary quarter-finals.

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