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Derry footballers up Cavan in extra time

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Cavan are still kicking themselves, because this was a game they could have and should have won in normal time. Even though they had been outmaneuvered for long periods, they were two points clear with just 3 minutes left when they allowed Enda Muldoon and then Niall McCusker in for the scores that gave Derry a lifeline.
It wasn’t hard to quickly work out which team been adversely affected by that finale as Derry proceeded to outscore their opponents by 0-10 to no score in extra time.
“We just had nothing left when the game went into extra-time,” Cavan manager Eamonn Coleman said. “Derry were stronger everywhere and just seemed to get better and better.”
Paddy Bradley finished up with eight points, including four frees, for the winners, while Muldoon contributed 0-6 with two frees. Jason O’Reilly and Gerald Pearson had the Cavan goals in a robust contest which saw referee John Bannon brandish 12 yellow cards.

TYRONE 1-15, DOWN 1-10
Last year’s All-Ireland champions, Tyrone, are working their way back toward Croke Park following a victory over Down in Newry. There were signs that the drive so lacking in the defeat by Donegal was back as Sean Cavanagh struck for an early goal, and even though Tyrone were only one point in front at the break, they were never in any serious discomfort.
Mark Harte compiled seven points, including three from placed balls, while Eoin Mulligan kicked three from play. After a reasonable start, Down’s long-ball tactics failed to produce a dividend and they were very disappointing during the second half.

FERMANAGH 0-19, MEATH 2-12
Few were expecting Meath to be caught out by the same opposition at the same stage of the summer two years in a row, but Sean Boylan and his players crashed out of the championship when they lost to Fermanagh after extra-time at Brewster Park.
Two first-half goals by Daithi Regan gave Meath an interval lead of 2-4 to 0-8, but with the normally reliable Joe Sheridan struggling with his freetaking, Fermanagh saw a chink of light. They still looked to be going out until in the very last minute of injury time, Colm Bradley swung over a superb sideline kick to send the game into extra time.
Fermanagh held firm from then on and deserved their narrow success. “My thoughts are with the players right now,” Boylan said later. “My own plans? I’m not even thinking about myself at the moment.”

CORK 0-15, CLARE 0-11
Cork were even hotter favorites than Meath going into their game at Cusack Park. However, they were made to battle all the way before defeating Clare. With 20 minutes to go, Cork found themselves trailing by two points, but a couple of astute substitutions by manager Billy Morgan had the desired effect and the winners were able to hit five points in a row.
With brothers David and Denis Russell in impressive form — Denis finished with 0-7, including five from frees — Clare were the dominant force until that final quarter when Colin Corkery and Colin Crowley took advantage of a tiring opposition.

DUBLIN 1-13, LEITRIM 0-4
As expected, Dublin saw off the challenge of Leitrim by a comfortable margin at Carrick-on-Shannon, yet the Dubs found it difficult to impose themselves, especially during the first half, as a tenacious home side gave it their best shot.
“By Jesus, we are satisfied with that,” manager Tommy Lyons said. “It wasn’t pretty, but it was about coming down here and winning. We knew Leitrim were going to get stuck into us in a big way, so we dug in and got a result. The main thing is we’re back in the hat.”
With Bryan Cullen making his mark at centerback and Ian Robertson returning from injury, Dublin took a while to come to terms with a dogged Leitrim, who continue to lack a scoring forward, but by the time Alan Brogan had a penalty saved by Gareth Phelan in the 50th minute, the contest was as good as over.
Senan Connell struck for a late goal, Tomas Quinn and Brogan added three points each, and Jason Sherlock contributed two, while Leitrim manager Declan Rowley announced that his three-year stint at the helm was over.

GALWAY 2-8, LOUTH 0-9
Galway were in trouble for a while against Louth at Parnell Park, and with the game coming just six days after their Connacht championship loss to Mayo, John O’Mahony’s team were relieved to come through.
Noel Meehan’s injury-time goal put a gloss on the scoreline in what was an unconvincing performance, and if a brave Louth hadn’t been so wasteful — both J.P. Rooney and Simon Gerard missed excellent goal chances — a shock result might have been on the cards.

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LONGFORD 1-14, WATERFORD 1-5
Longford were also made to struggle as they overcame Waterford at Portlaoise where a 1-4 contribution from Padraic Davis proved decisive.

ALL IRELAND
FOOTBALL QUALIFIERS
Second round — Saturday: Wexford Vs. Offaly, at Wexford Park
Third round — Saturday, July 17: Cork vs. Fermanagh, Tyrone vs. Galway, both at Croke Park; Derry vs. Offaly or Wexford.

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