Arva reached the Ulster club junior football championship semi-finals following a convincing victory over Ballymaguigan.
The Cavan champions were five points clear at half-time but ran out 2-17 to 0-8 winners. As both sides finished the game with 14 men.
Peter Morris gave Arva a three-point cushion on 20 minutes, three minutes later Kevin Bouchier’s goal doubled their advantage. However, the Derry outfit received a lifeline 60 seconds from half-time, Arva’s James Morris was shown a straight red card.
Ballymaguigan’s Pearce O’Neill and Tomas Brady responded with two points in as many minutes making it 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time.
Arva kept the scoreboard ticking over after the restart. Paul Finnegan’s 51st minute goal resulting in a 13-point lead.
60 seconds from time, Ballymaguigan’s problems were compounded when Johnny Cassidy was sent-off.
Before leaving the field, Cassidy pushed the referee Mark Dorrian and struck the linesman. The linesman subsequently required medical attention.
Ciaran Brady gave Arva a 15-point cushion deep into injury time and Finbar O’Reilly’s men, which they held on to win.
Next up for Arva is an Ulster semi-final meeting with Fermanagh’s Lisnaskea Emmet’s in two weeks’ time.
