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Paddy Tierney

Fermanagh vs Derry: Player ratings from Saturday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final

Fermanagh ratings

Sean McNally

Beaten three times, including from a penalty. Shane McGuigan's spot-kick was drilled low into the corner, so Sean McNally didn’t have much of a chance. Kickouts were decent though and scored a ’45. 6.5

Luke Flanagan

Trying to track Ethan Doherty is one of the most thankless tasks in football and Luke Flanagan endured a tough day at the office. Doherty scored one point, but had a hand in another half a dozen scores for Derry. 5.5

Che Cullen

Difficult to assess Che Cullen. On one hand, he was marking Shane McGuigan, who scored 2-5 and Cullen also fouled him for one of his two frees. On the other, he scored two excellent goals for his side. A mixed bag if ever there was one. 7

Cian McManus

It was his shot being blocked down that led to Che Cullen’s first goal, but that was as good as it got for Cian McManus and he was called ashore soon after. 6

Johnny Cassidy

One of the few Fermanagh defenders to edge his personal battle on Saturday. Kept Niall Loughlin scoreless on a tough evening for the Erne County. 7

Shane McGuillon

Fermanagh’s rearguard was pulled apart by Derry’s creativity and movement, but also their directness. Shane McGuillon was caught out on a number of occasions in the first half. 6

Lee Cullen

Fermanagh had to put out a number of fires on Saturday evening and Lee Cullen was moved to midfield in the second half to curtain Brendan Rogers. Tried hard, but the Slaughtneil man was at his brilliant best. 6

Ryan Jones

Had a fine battle with Conor Glass in the first half with both men scoring a point from play. However, Fermanagh’s midfield were second best overall on the day. 6.5

Brandon Horan

Failed to get close enough to Brendan Rogers and never imposed himself in the midfield battle. Replaced at half-time. 5

Aidan Breen

Had fared well in the League, but this was a step up in class for Fermanagh. Scored one point from play, but was replaced at half-time. 5.5

Ryan Lyons

Converted two frees, but never threatened from open play. Gareth McKinless kept him quiet and the Ballinderry man had much more of an influence on the game than Lyons. 6

Ronan McCaffrey

Gave away a cheap free which led to a point from Shane McGuigan. Tracked Niall Toner and was second best in that dual, particularly in the second half. 5.5

Ultan Kelm

Fermanagh's Ultan Kelm scored a point from play in each half and looked dangerous when in possession (©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

Always looked lively and scored a point in each half. Also guilty of a few poor wides and he perhaps tried a bit too hard to try and get Fermanagh back into the contest. 7

Darragh McGurn

Fought for a few high balls, but it just didn’t happen for Darragh McGurn on Saturday. Eoin McEvoy kept touch-tight to the Fermanagh attacker for the majority of the game. 6

Josh Largo Ellis

Derry kept Josh Largo Ellis on the periphery of the game by putting Conor Doherty on him when he came forward and pushing Gareth McKinless into attack when Josh Largo Ellis was down the pitch. 6

Subs:

Declan McCusker: The Fermanagh captain could have been called for sooner and scored a good point and the defence looked more assured when he was there. Conceded the penalty, but it was a harsh enough call on Fermanagh. 6.5

Conor McShea: Introduced at half-time for Brandon Horan, but failed to make an impact on proceedings. 5

Conall Jones: Brought on for Cian McManus with a little over 10 minutes remaining. Worked hard, but the game was gone from Fermanagh by that stage. 6

Garvan Jones: On for the last 10 minutes for Ryan Lyons, but wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet. 5

Fionan O’Brien: Not on long enough to be rated .

Derry ratings

Odhran Lynch

Scored a point from play in the first half and set up Paul Cassidy’s goal with a great ball over the top. Was also excellent under the high ball and his kick-outs were excellent. Little he could do for Cullen’s two goals. 8

Chrissy McKaigue

A solid return to action for last year’s Derry skipper. Fared reasonably well on Ultan Kelm in the first half, restricting his man to one point from play. Seemed to pick up a knock late on and was replaced inside the final 10 minutes. 7

Padraig McGrogan

Attack is the best form of defence and Padraig McGrogan put Fermanagh on the back foot with a fine point inside two minutes and played the sweeper role as Derry turned over Fermanagh on multiple occasions. 7

Conor McCluskey

Conor McCluskey’s impressive 2013 form continues. Always looks assured in his defensive duties, but landed a stunning second half point at a time when Fermanagh were threatening to make a game of it. 7.5

Conor Doherty

Took over man-marking duties on Ultan Kelm in the second half after shadowing Josh Largo Ellis in the first. Kelm kicked one point in the second half, but Doherty can be pleased with his efforts. 7

Gareth McKinless

Named at centre-back, Gareth McKinless displayed his versatility by lining out at centre forward and Fermanagh were certainly thrown by the tactic early on. Made space for others to exploit and fought for plenty of breaks. 7.5

Padraig Cassidy

One of three Derry defenders to score on Saturday, Padraig Cassidy scored two points in quick succession. Confident in possession, he is a real asset to Derry when at full fitness. 7.5

Conor Glass

It was perhaps a surprise that Conor Glass started against Fermanagh, but he illustrated his well-being with a trademark score. Replaced after 40 minutes with one-eye on the provincial semi-final. 7

Brendan Rogers

The complete footballer, Brendan Rogers seems to have brought his excellent 2022 form into 2023. Fermanagh couldn’t get to grips with the Slaughtneil ace even when Lee Cullen was moved to midfield for the second half. 8

Niall Toner

Another hard-working and industrious effort from Niall Toner. Enjoyed more freedom when pressed forward in the second half and scored a well-taken point. 7

Paul Cassidy

Took his goal with aplomb and scored two excellent points from play. A superb performance from Cassidy and Derry will hope he can continue in that vein in the semi-final. 8

Ethan Doherty

Never fails to impress. Some of Ethan Doherty’s passing on Saturday was a joy to behold. Only narrowly missed out on the Man-of-the-Match honour after two missed chances late on. 8.5

Eoin McEvoy

A late call-up in place of Benny Heron and opened the scoring inside the first minute with a fisted point. Kept tabs on Darragh McGurn after that and held the Fermanagh full-forward scoreless. 8

Shane McGuigan - Star Man

Derry's Shane McGuigan slots home a penalty in the second half (©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

Cool finish to dispatch the penalty moments after Fermanagh scored a goal at the other end. Shane McGuigan ended Saturday’s game with 2-5 to his credit, 1-3 from play. Also had a hand in scores for Brendan Rogers and Padraig Cassidy. One wide midway through the second half was about all he did wrong in the entire game. A classy performance. 9

Niall Loughlin

Was off target with a few efforts and got very little change from Johnny Cassidy. Worked hard throughout before making way late on. 6.5

Subs

Benny Heron: Introduced for Conor Glass early in the second half. Guilty of a bad wide in the dying minutes of the game when the goal was on, but earned his side a penalty which McGuigan converted. 6

Paul McNeill: Came on for Eoin McEvoy for the closing stages and acquitted himself well as Derry saw the game out. 6

Ben McCarron: Brought in for Chrissy McKaigue inside the final 10 minutes, but didn’t have much of a chance to make an impact. 5.5

Lachlan Murray : Not on long enough to be rated.

Declan Cassidy: Not on long enough to be rated.

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