Leo Murphy Cup Final: Fermanagh 1-5 Down 1-6
Down edged out a gutsy but wasteful Fermanagh in an entertaining tussle in Brewster Park on Monday night.
Down, who drew with Ulster U20 finalists Tyrone, looked to have sealed this affair 10 seconds into the second half when Nathan Rogers scored a wonder goal to put them into a 1-5 to 0-3 lead.
But spirited Fermanagh hit back with a goal of their own when team captain Sean Conlon palmed a Michael Burns cross to the net in the 43rdminute.
The Ernesiders went on to hit four wides which were to prove costly.
And it took two top class from Fermanagh keeper Shea Mulligan to deny Down two certain goals.
Fermanagh opened the scoring with a superb point from the sideline from Mattie McDermott in the third minute.
Down were making probing runs and Cian Cunningham punched a levelling point after.
Ryan Quinn put Down ahead, but this was cancelled by a mark won by Erne captain Sean Conlon, which was converted.
Exchanges were eve, but the home side lost corner-back Cal McAnespie to a black card for a rash challenge on a Down player.
It was advantage Down, but Fermanagh’s Kealan Fizpatrick put his side into the lead with another corker from an acute angle in the 15th minute
But it was Down who were making all the moves and Emmett Rogers pointed from a free to level matters again in the 20th minute.
McAnespie came back on, but the swift moving Down lads were still in the ascendancy and Tom McCarron arced over a fine point as Fermanagh were restricted to sporadic raids.
Jamie Doran made it 0-5 to 0-3 at the break with a fine point.
Rogers hit the net after a superb six-man move to put his side 1-5 to 0-3 in front.
It looked grim for the home side, but a point from Kealan Fitzpatrick - their first in 22 minutes - sparked their comeback.
And Conlon’s palmed goal left just a point between the sides.
The home side were dominant but hit four bad wides as Down edged further in front from Cormac O’Reilly.
But Fermanagh’s impressive sub Michael Burns left the minimum margin between the sides as time ticked away.
However, they hit two more wides as Down hung on for victory.