Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship preliminary round: Fermanagh 2-9 Down 1-9
TWO goals in the opening quarter helped Fermanagh see off Down at Brewster Park on Saturday and set up a quarter-final encounter against Donegal.
With the breeze at their backs, the Ernemen dictated the play in the first half to lead by five points at the break but Down responded well in the early stages of the second half as they managed to close the gap back to a single point.
However, Fermanagh weathered the storm and they pulled away again in the closing stages to secure a deserved victory.
The home side could not have wished for a better start to the game as they had the ball in the back of the Mournemen’s net inside the opening minute. Tiarnan Wray was quickest to react to a Cian O’Brien free that dropped short as he palmed the ball home before Kealan Fitzpatrick followed up with a fine point moments later to make 1-1 to no score.
It took Down 13 minutes to register their opening score, a fine effort from Brian Grant, but Fermanagh then swooped for their second goal.
The excellent Mattie McDermott won a free after he turned over possession and from this Conor O’Hanlon sent Fitzpatrick away on the right and he slipped in O’Brien who fired to the net.
Score from Michael Burns and the influential O’Hanlon maintained Fermanagh’s advantage but Down were given hope late in the half when Lewis Green clipped the ball over Erne goalkeeper Shea McElroy to the net to leave it 2-4 to 1-2 at half time.
And Down started the second half on the front foot as they rattled off four points in a row. Cameron Gribben slotted over two frees while Riain Magorrian and the impressive Green also tagged on points to leave one between the sides.
Fermanagh though settled back into the game and they were awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute when substitute Tiarnan McKenna was pulled down although Fitzpatrick’s effort flew over the bar.
Fitzpatrick added on two points from frees, both won by McKenna, although points from Green and Taidgh O’Hanlon meant that only a point divided the sides going into the final five minutes.
It was the home side though who were to push on and two points from O’Brien, one from play and one from a free, extended their advantage out to four points with the game in added on time.
Down did have a late point from a James Savage free but they could not find the goal they needed as Fermanagh saw out the remainder of the time to progress to a tie against Donegal.
Fermanagh: S McElroy; C McAnespy, L Feeley, R Love; C Brennan, O Swift, B Warnock; C O’Hanlon (0-1), L McEnri; T Wray (1-0), C O’Brien (1-3, 0-2 frees), K Fitzpatrick (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 pen); C Smith, M McDermott, M Burns (0-1 mark)
Subs : T McKenna for Smith (41), K McGoldrick for Warnock (41), S Deazley for Brennan (60)
Down: N Howlett; D OgMcCoy, C McLeod 0-1, K McNeill; C Gribben (0-2 frees), M McGuinness, T O’Hanlon (0-1); L Green 1-2, C Woods; B Grant (0-1), J Savage (0-1 free), C McDevitt; D Murdock, R Magorrian (0-1), P Brady
Subs: S McEvoy for McDevitt (28), O Donaldson for McCoy (43), E Murray for Gribben (50), D Cunningham for Murdock (55), D Sloan for Magorrian (59)
