Tailteann Cup: Fermanagh overcome Longford

Tailteann Cup Round 1

Fermanagh 1-24 Longford 2-17

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Fermanagh secured their place in Round 2A of the Tailteann Cup with a four point victory over Longford at Brewster Park this afternoon.

Declan Bonner’s side trailed by a point at the break, 1-9 to 1-10, following a well contested first half, and a Dylan Farrell goal in the 46th minute meant that Longford edged in front once again, 1-14 to 2-12.

However, the Erne men got on top over the final quarter to push clear and seal the win.

Longford had started the brighter of the sides as Daniel Reynolds sent Oisin O’Toole racing in on goal and he made no mistake in arrowing his drive into the corner of the net as the visitors led 1-2 to 0-2.

Fermanagh though hit back through the lively Conor Love who cut in from the right and drilled a low shot to the back of the net to level up matters.

Longford, who were enjoying the better of the exchanges in the middle third at this stage, responded with a Farrell two pointer and scores from Paddy Moran and Oran Kenny to move into a 1-7 to 1-3 advantage by the midway stage of the half although Fermanagh answered with points from Sean Cassidy, Darragh McGurn and Love to leave it 1-8 apiece by the 29th minute.

Another Farrell two point effort nudged Longford back ahead and although Joe McDade registered late in the half for the home outfit, it was Mike Solan’s side who went in at the interval with their noses in front.

A converted Matthew Carey free saw the lead extended to two on the resumption but Fermanagh replied with four points in a row from Sean Cassidy, the impressive Mattie McDermott, Ciaran Corrigan and Ronan McCaffrey to claim a 1-13 to 1-11 lead.

Farrell and McDermott traded points before Longford regained the initiative as Farrell palmed the ball to the net to make it 2-12 to 1-14.

A black card for Reynolds saw Longford reduced to 14 men for ten minutes and although Carey popped over a free for the away side, Fermanagh then took control and McDermott, Josh Largo Elis, McGurn and Corrigan clipped over scores to put them two ahead.

It remained tight as Moran and Kenny knocked over for Longford to tie up proceedings but Fermanagh pushed on as the contest drew to a close as Stephen McGullion banged over a fine two pointer before Garvan Jones, McCaffrey and Shane McGullion also tagged on points to make it a five point game with time almost up.

Longford did land a late two pointer of their own from midfielder Carey but an Oisin Kelm score wrapped things up for Fermanagh as they ran out 1-24 to 2-17 victors.

Scorers for Fermanagh: Conor Love 1-2, Darragh McGurn 0-4, Mattie McDermott 0-3, Ronan McCaffrey 0-2, Josh Largo Elis 0-2, Sean Cassidy 0-2, Stephen McGullion 0-2 (tp), Ciaran Corrigan 0-2, Shane McGullion 0-1, Brandon Horan 0-1, Joe McDade 0-1, Garvan Jones 0-1 (f), Oisin Kelm 0-1

Scorers for Longford: Dylan Farrell 1-5 (2tp, 1’45), Matthew Carey 0-4 (1tp), Oisin O’Toole 1-0, Oran Kenny 0-3, Paddy Moran 0-2, Matthew Flynn 0-1, Joseph Hagan 0-1, Daniel Reynolds 0-1

FERMANAGH: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Oisin Smyth, Shane McGullion; Jonathan Cassidy, Ronan McCaffrey, Josh Largo Elis; Conor McGee, Stephen McGullion; Sean Cassidy, Brandon Horan, Joe McDade; Conor Love, Darragh McGurn, Mattie McDermott. Subs: Ciaran Corrigan for Luke Flanagan (21), Garvan Jones for Sean Cassidy (45), Declan McCusker for Conor McGee (49), Ultan Kelm for Brandon Horan (60), Oisin Kelm for Mattie McDermott (70)

LONGFORD: Eoin McGuinness; Patrick Fox, Ronan Sweeney, Bryan Masterson; Cian Brady, Oisin O’Toole, James Moran; Matthew Carey, Daire Duggan; Matthew Flynn, Joseph Hagan, Daniel Reynolds; Paddy Moran, Dylan Farrell, Oran Kenny. Subs: Peter Lynn for James Moran (h/t), Aaron Farrell for Matthew Flynn (45), Niall Farrelly for Daire Duggan (57), Daire O’Brien for Paddy Moran (67)

Referee: Barry Cassidy