By Shane Breslin Fermanagh 1-11 Derry 1-9 Inspired by a goal from returning star Barry Owens, Fermanagh produced an irresistible performance to eclipse National Football League champions Derry and book their place in the Ulster SFC final on Saturday evening. On a wet and windy evening in Omagh, Fermanagh were truly exceptional as they ended a 26-year wait for the right to play in the provincial decider. They had to withstand a late rally from Derry, with substitute Raymond Wilkinson cutting the deficit to two with a brace of points inside the last three minutes, while midfielder James Conway saw a fisted goal effort expertly batted away by goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher. But victory was fully deserved for a Fermanagh side who blitzed their more illustrious opponents with a stunning second half display. Fermanagh played against the considerable wind for the opening 35 minutes but went in at the break down by just two (1-5 to 0-6), and they could even have been in front had Eamon Maguire been able to beat Derry goalkeeper Barry Gillis from a goal chance created by Mark Little just before the interval. The tone for the game was set in a ferocious beginning, with two blood substitutions within the first eight minutes, one of which, to Enda Muldoon, seemed to affect the Derry forward adversely for the remainder of the game. Nevertheless, Derry started well, with half back Michael McIver firing their first score before Eoin Bradley took centre stage. He pointed from play at the end of a well-worked move and then skinned Peter Sherry to plant low to Ronan Gallagher's net. Derry had opened up a 1-3 to 0-1 lead and referee Syl Doyle gave them the chance to draw eight points clear by awarding a penalty on 16 minutes. Replays suggested that the decision, awarded for a perceived foul by Marty McGrath on Niall McCusker, was harsh on the Fermanagh captain - contact appeared to be shoulder to shoulder - but any discussion was rendered redundant when Gallagher dived to his right to divert Conleth Gilligan's kick out for a '45. The Derry forward went some way towards atonement by converting the ensuing 50-yard kick but the penalty miss seemed to rob Derry of their impetus, with Fermanagh grabbing the next three scores - two of which came from marauding half backs Tommy McElroy and Damien Kelly. The second half began with lots of shadow-boxing but no knock-out blows, with each side adding just one point in the first 15 minutes. Fermanagh's was a long-range effort from arguably their best player, Mark Little, who Derry found as manageable as a hurricane throughout as he dropped deep into defensive areas, collecting loose ball after loose all before carrying the fight into the attack. With 20 minutes left and Little's score cancelled out by a Paddy Bradley free, the half-time status quo - a two-point Derry lead - remained intact. For the next 15 minutes, however, the Erne men's force of will created a situation of total dominance. The decisive score, a 53rd minute goal, came from one of the most unlikely sources: Barry Owens, twice an All Star full back, was introduced at full forward for his first competitive Fermanagh appearance since undergoing heart surgery earlier this year, and within 60 seconds, he beat Derry goalkeeper Gillis to Eamon Maguire's under-hit effort and fisted the ball to the unguarded net. Buoyed by that score, which gave them the lead for the first time since the fourth minute, Fermanagh attacked Derry in waves with Maguire pointing twice, ace free-taker Ryan Keenan popping one over from play and Marty McGrath - midfielder and captain fantastic - adding his customary score. The wind was taken from their sails as corner back Peter Sherry was dismissed for a second bookable offence. The decision was probably correct - Sherry's foul was rash - but Wexford whistler Doyle won himself few admirers with an erratic display in which he saw fit to issue yellow cards to almost half of those who started the game. As Fermanagh reshuffled, Derry hit back in the last eight minutes but other than two scores from Wilkinson they were unable to force their way back into contention. As time ran out, they were reduced to dropping balls into the square in search of a game-changing goal but the Fermanagh defence held firm, with Shane Goan, Ryan McCluskey and Stephen McDermott - who came in for the injured Hugh Brady before the throw-in - all immense. Fermanagh: R. Gallagher, S. Goan, S. McDermott, P. Sherry, D. Kelly (0-1), R. McCluskey, T. McElroy (0-1), M. McGrath (0-1), M. Murphy, C. McElroy, J. Sherry, R. Keenan (0-4, three frees), E. Maguire (0-2), L. McBarron (0-1), M. Little (0-1). Subs: M. McCabe for McBarron; B. Owens (1-0) for J. Sherry. Derry: B. Gillis, K. McGuckin, K. McCloy, F. McEldowney, G. O'Kane, N. McCusker, M. McIver (0-1), J. Conway, J. Diver, M. Lynch, P. Murphy, E. Muldoon, C. Gilligan (0-2, one 45, one free), Paddy Bradley (0-3, one free), E. Bradley (1-1). Subs: M. McGoldrick for F. McEldowney, Patsy Bradley for P. Murphy, D. O'Reilly for McGuckin, R. Wilkinson (0-2) for J. Diver. Referee: S. Doyle (Wexford). Tweet

Most Read Stories