By Colm Shalvey

The Lory Meagher Cup continued with hard-earned wins for Fermanagh and Leitrim on Saturday.

Lory Meagher Cup Round 2

Fermanagh 2-13 Lancashire 0-15

Leitrim 2-16 Cavan 1-16

2017 finalists Leitrim got their first win of this year’s competition at the expense of Cavan in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Early points from Gavin O’Hagan and Colm Moreton got Leitrim off to a good start, but Diarmaid Carney led the way as Cavan earned a narrow lead by the 15-minute mark. Leitrim responded in style, as Clement Cunniffe and Moreton found the net in quick succession, although Jack Barry got a goal back to bring Cavan level after half an hour.

The sides remained inseparable (2-7 to 1-10) at half-time, but Leitrim claimed a narrow lead throughout the third quarter, via scores from the likes of Stephen Goldrick, O’Hagan and Moreton, who top-scored for the hosts with 1-5. Carney hit ten points for Cavan, but they had Kevin Conneely sent off inside the final 15 minutes and a late brace from Ben Murray guided Leitrim over the line on a 2-16 to 1-16 scoreline.

Fermanagh are well placed to make the final for the first time since their 2015 win after they got the better of last year’s runners-up Lancashire in Enniskillen.

Lancashire led by 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time, with Ronan Crowley’s accuracy threatening to fire the Exiles to a second win in the space of a week, but a brace of second-half goals moved Fermanagh top of the table. John and Caolán Duffy and Barry McPhillips were among the Fermanagh scorers as the Erne County secured a 2-13 to 0-15 win.