Following a thrilling denouement at Breffni Park, Cavan defeated Fermanagh by 1-8 to 1-7 to advance to the 2015 Dr McKenna Cup final.

The decider will be played at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, where holders Tyrone will provide the opposition in a repeat of last year's January showcase.

Tonight, in front of 2,150 spectators, this match exploded to life in the last five minutes as a goal from Martin O'Brien edged the losers - who had gone 29 minutes without a score - to within touching distance of a final spot, 1-7 to 0-8.

But substitute Philip Tinnelly - with his very first touch! - replied with a Cavan three-pointer on the stroke of full time before a Sean Quigley free came back off the upright in injury time as Fermanagh desperately tried to get back on terms.

Three-first half points from Quigley had helped Fermanagh deservedly take a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

The visitors started brightly with points from Quigley and Barry Mulrone before Martin Reilly posted Cavan's first point from a twelfth-minute free and Dara McVeety equalised two minutes later.

Quigley restored Fermanagh's lead with a brilliantly-struck 16th-minute free and Ryan Jones added a stunning long-range point in the 21st minute: 0-4 to 0-2.

Again, Terry Hyland's charges drew level, this time with scores from Tom Hayes and Niall McDermott (free). But, for the third time, Peter McGrath's men edged two points clear as Declan McCusker and Quigley found the target with quickfire points on the stroke of half time.

Cavan took the lead for the first time thanks to three unanswered points in the third quarter…

McDermott (free) registered the first score of the second half eight minutes in and Conor Moynagh pointed to level the scores for the third time 16 minutes after the restart. Martin Reilly then pointed from play to make it 0-7 to 0-6.

Lyng added another Cavan point as the home side took a stranglehold on proceedings.

Then, without warning, the Ernemen awoke from their slumber: Quigley (free) provided their first score of the second half on 64 minutes and O'Brien netted a minute later to set up a grandstand finale. But it was supersub Tinnelly who had the last say.

Cavan - C Gilsenan; K Brady, R Dunne, J McLoughlin; F Flanagan, C Moynagh (0-1), M Reilly (0-2, 1f); D O'Reilly, K Clarke; D McVeety (0-1), C Conroy, M McKeever; N McDermott (0-2f), T Hayes (0-1), J Brady. Subs: M Lyng (0-1) for D McVeety, E Hessin for C Conroy, J Hayes for K Brady, M Dunne for T Hayes, P Tinnelly (1-0) for C Moynagh.

Fermanagh - C Snow; M Jones, J Allen, N Cassidy; D McCusker (0-1), R McCluskey, M O'Brien (1-0); E Donnelly, R O'Callaghan; B Mulrone (0-1), R Jones (0-1), P McCusker; R Corrigan, S Quigley (0-4, 2f), E McManus. Subs: D Kelly for R O'Callaghan, T Corrigan for P McCusker, J McMahon for E McManus, C Flaherty for R Corrigan.

Referee - M McNally.

Tweet

Most Read Stories