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McKenna Cup: Down record another big win, Derry and Cavan prevail

Plenty of room on the hill for spectators during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup tie between Fermanagh and Derry at Ederney St. Joseph's GAA Club.

Plenty of room on the hill for spectators during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup tie between Fermanagh and Derry at Ederney St. Joseph's GAA Club.

BANK OF IRELAND DR. MCKENNA CUP SECOND ROUND RESULTS

Down 2-14 Donegal 1-10

Derry 0-11 Fermanagh 1-4

Cavan 2-10 Antrim 0-9

Conor Laverty made it two wins from two as new Down manager, both against Division One opposition, after his men made full use of home advantage against Donegal this afternoon.

A fantastic run and finish from Liam Kerr, set up by Danny Magill, helped Down into an early 1-2 to no score lead, before Donegal got their first score of 2023 through Ciarán Thompson.

Pat Havern was the main threat for Down up front but Donegal had a bit more balance in their attack in the opening quarter, with Daire Ó Baoill scoring a goal for Paddy Carr’s men, before Paddy McBrearty and Jamie Brennan pointed to draw the game level at 1-5 each.

Down found another gear before half time however, scoring 1-4 without reply with Conor Francis rounding off a good team move to finish off a second goal.

With substitutions coming thick and fast, the game lost a lot of momentum after half-time and Down were able to preserve their lead throughout, with Tom Close and Anthony Doherty scoring their clinching points at the end.

The script was reversed at Ederney, where the tie between Derry and Fermanagh never really caught fire in the opening half, before Derry kicked on to secure a four-point win with an improved display in the second 35 minutes.

The Ulster champions were guilty of a lot of first half errors, and Fermanagh, who led by 1-2 to 0-4 at half-time, will regret that they shot seven wides and should have been further in front. The goal was set up by Ryan Jones and finished by his brother Garvan.

Derry, who lined out with 11 of the team that started the 2022 All-Ireland semi-final against Galway, picked things up in the second half, particularly defensively. Fermanagh scored just twice after the break, a free and a stoppage time score from Conor McGee, while Conor Doherty, Niall Loughlin and Shane McGuigan – who ended the contest with six points – put Derry in control.

In Portglenone, Oisín Brady’s seven point haul proved to be the difference between the sides as Cavan prevailed by 2-10 to 0-9 over the home side.

Luck favoured the Breffni county in the tenth minute when Gerard Smith fired a shot off the post and the rebound fell perfectly for Martin Reilly to find the net.

Antrim had more than enough chances to draw level and take the lead, but their shooting was below par in windy conditions. They needed goalkeeper Mick Byrne to keep them in contention when he blocked another goalbound effort from Reilly, but he could do nothing to prevent Brandon Boylan tapping in a goal to make it 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time.

Antrim’s attack completely fell apart after the break and they went half an hour without scoring, and Cavan had plenty of cushion to withstand two late scores from Ryan Murray.