Tailteann Cup: Fermanagh cruise to victory

Tailteann Cup Group Three

Fermanagh 3-16 Wicklow 0-9

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Fermanagh opened their Tailteann Cup campaign in emphatic style as they recorded a win over Wicklow in Brewster Park.

Kieran Donnelly’s side had led by four points at the interval before going on to really assert their dominance on proceedings in the second half.

Sean Cassidy’s 41^st minute goal opened up an eight-point cushion and substitute Conor Love netted twice with his first two touches as Fermanagh ran out commanding winners.

The home side had an early goal chance when Ultan Kelm burst through the Wicklow rearguard, but he fired wide.

Kelm did open the scoring with a point in the fifth minute but Oisin McGraynor got Oisin McConville’s charges up and running from a free.

Fermanagh though registered the next three points as Che Cullen rifled over and Sean Cassidy and Fionan O’Brien did likewise for the home outfit.

Indeed, their advantage could have been greater as Conor McShea was put through on goal by Callum Jones but his effort was saved by Shane Doyle in the Wicklow goal.

Points from McGraynor and Eoin Darcy had the visitors back to within one point by the 27th minute, but Fermanagh answered this with four points on the bounce from O’Brien, Callum Jones, Johnny Cassidy and Joe McDade.

Darcy did notch the final score of the half for Wicklow, but at half time they trailed 0-8 to 0-4.

Fermanagh went on to boss the exchanges in the second half as McDade and Garvan Jones extended their lead out to six points before Darcy landed Wicklow’s first score of the half from a free.

The away side’s hopes, though, suffered a massive blow moments later as a good Erne move resulted in the influential Callum Jones picking out Cassidy who palmed to the back of the net.

When Conor McShea then followed up with a point it pushed Fermanagh into a nine point lead.

McGraynor and Padraig O’Toole did slot over points for Wicklow, but Fermanagh always remained in command as Kelm drilled over a ’45, Johnny Cassidy popped up from defence with his second point of the game and Garvan Jones fired over to make it 1-14 to 0-7.

Fermanagh then introduced Conor Love for Sean Cassidy in the 55th minute and by the 58th minute he had bagged two goals.

His first involvement saw Callum Jones again providing the chance as he fed it through to Love in space and he blasted to the back of the net.

Wicklow replied with a Darcy point, but Fermanagh went straight down the other end and Conor McShea this time slipped in Love, who stepped inside before rattling his shot to the corner to make it 3-14 to 0-8.

McGraynor did record his fourth point of the contest for Wicklow, but it was only a consolation score and with Josh Largo Elis and Diarmuid King on target for Fermanagh they finished up comprehensive 3-16 to 0-9 victors.

Scorers for Fermanagh: C Love 2-0, S Cassidy 1-1, J Cassidy 0-2, F O’Brien 0-2, G Jones 0-2 (1f), J McDade 0-2, U Kelm (0-2 1’45), C Cullen 0-1, C Jones 0-1, J Largo Elis 0-1, C McShea 0-1, D King 0-1

Scorers for Wicklow: O McGraynor 0-4 (3f), E Darcy 0-4 (2f), P O’Toole 0-1

Fermanagh: S McNally; L Cullen, C Cullen, J Cassidy; D McCusker, C Jones, J Largo-Elis; B Horan, J McDade; C McGee, C McShea, F O'Brien, U Kelm, G Jones, S Cassidy.

Subs: S McGullion for McGee (25), C Love for S Cassidy (55), D King (0-01) for C Jones (59), J McMahon for McCusker (61), R McCaffrey for J Cassidy (65).

Wicklow: S Doyle; T Moran, M S, M Kenny; M Nolan, C Baker, G Fogarty; D Healy, C Maguire; D Fee, O McGraynor, J Kirwan; J Carlin, G Murphy, J Paul Nolan.

Subs: J Prendergast for Kirwan (10), E Darcy for Baker (18), P O’Toole for Murphy, E Murtagh for Fee (both 45), C Fee Kenny (50).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).