Fermanagh End Derry's Run
Sligo's goalkeeper Philip Green goes flying over Mayo's Peadar Gardiner (INPHO)
Ulster SFC Semi-Final
Fermanagh 1-11
Derry 1-9
By Dermot Kavanagh
In their defeat of Kerry in the league final, and of Donegal in the championship, Derry looked an all-round team, with genuine all Ireland title credentials.
They were strong in defence, almost unbeatable in midfield and possessed an attack that seemed as if it could score whenever the need arose.
However the Derry team that turned up in Omagh on Saturday night was a pale shadow of what was anticipated.
Apart from a bright opening twelve minutes, where they built up a five-point lead, they lost all focus and concentration to hand a place in the final to a Fermanagh side that were only willing to accept the gift.
Full credit to Fermanagh though. They came into the game as serious underdogs.
Other teams might have conceeded defeat to Derry following the latter's explosive start.
Not Fermanagh, though, who appeared to treat that early deficit as merely an additional challenge.
Once Fermanagh had checked Derry's march they were the masters and went in at half-time only 2 points in arrears (1-5 to 0-6) with a wind advantage to come.
A feature of Fermanagh's resistance was an excellent penalty save by goalkeeper, Ronan Gallagher in the 14th minute.
The second-half was a procession with Fermanagh dictating play all over the field.
Derry had lost all their drive and shape and up to the last minute of normal time only scored one point in the second half.
The turning point of the game came in the 54th minute when former all star full back, Barry Owens, now introduced as a sub-full forward got his fist to a speculative shot to turn the ball into the Derry net for the lead, one that Fermanagh would not lose.
While Fermanagh's lead was never great, such was their composure under pressure and their willingness to push forward at all times it was sufficient to take the day.
They have now qualified for their first Ulster Final in 26 years. What a boost it would be for all concerned with football in the county were they to succeed?
Connacht SFC Semi-Final
Mayo 3-11 Sligo 0-7
While Mayo did no more than the minimum to qualify to meet Galway in the final, it has to be said that Sligo's defence of their title was pathetic.
While Mayo might have preferred a tougher game before the final they will be pleased that the team stayed competitive and focused to the end, traits that will be tested to the full by Galway.
One has only to recall the events of last summer and the outpouring of the joy and relief when Sligo won the 2007 Connacht title after a lapse of 32 years.
Strangely, on Sunday they looked like a team that couldn't surrender their title quickly enough.
A very lacklustre opening half was drawing to a close with Mayo in front by 0-6 to 0-3.
Then a Sligo defender needlessly conceded a penalty which Pat Harte coolly slotted home. With that score the game was as good as over.
The second half was no more than a training exercise for Mayo who outscored their opponents by 2-5 to 0-4.
While Mayo might have preferred a tougher game before the final they will be pleased that the team stayed competitive and focused to the end, traits that will be tested to the full by Galway.
For Sligo, it's difficult to envisage them even making progress in the Tommy Murphy Cup.
Leinster SFC Semi-Final
Wexford 0-18 Laois 0-12
Wexford's incremental improvement was again in evidence at Croke Park in this rather undistinguished semi-final clash with Laois.
That observation is no slight on Wexford who were excellent in all departments, but rather a comment on Laois who were distinctly poor.
The progress that Laois football made through minor and Under-21 success in the late 1990s which led to a senior title in 2003 has all but disappeared.
On Sunday they looked a dishevelled outfit with neither a game plan, or the means to execute one had a game plan been devised for them.
Wexford, contesting their fifth successive semi-final disposed of this Laois challenge with far more ease than it required to beat Meath last time out.
Once they got the measure of Laois, they came more into the game and looked certain winners from early in the second-half.
In the opening stages, with wind assistance, Laois did pose problems, but their inability to take some relatively easy scoring chances threw Wexford a lifeline.
Playing a quality brand of football, with effective interplay between backs and forwards, Wexford sensed that Laois were vunerable and there for the taking.
It was no surprise that by half-time Wexford had built up 0-8 to 0-6 lead, a lead that should have been far grater were it not for some uncharacteristic wides by, of all players, Mattie Forde.
Within 16 minutes of the restart Wexford's lead had increased to 6 points, mainly as a result of Forde finding his shooting range.
On two occasions in the following five minutes, Laois spurned two goal chances, either of which would probably have brought them back into contention.
While they did reduce the lead to four points shortly afterwards there was little evidence that they could save the game.
For the remaining ten minutes Wexford, having regained the game's momentum, added on two further points, to effectively seal the win.
Wexford, who will be contesting their first senior-final since 1956, now await the winners of the Dublin vs. Westmeath game.
They will be back on July 20th for the final and, with a little luck on the day, who is to say that they will not finally bring home that elusive Leinster title?
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