Fermanagh senior football team manager Kieran Donnelly. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final
Fermanagh 0-21 (0-2-17) Sligo 1-16 (1-2-12)
By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park
Fermanagh secured their place in the Tailteann Cup semi final with a two point victory over Sligo in Brewster Park.
The second quarter was the key period of the contest as Fermanagh took control. Niall Murphy’s 16th minute goal had put Sligo four points to the good, but Fermanagh responded superbly as they turned things around to go in at the interval with a five point lead, 0-14 to 1-6.
Sligo did close back to within one 10 minutes into the second half, but Fermanagh regained the upperhand and deservedly ran out victors.
It was tit for tat in the early stages as Shane McGullion and Garvan Jones registered for the Ernemen while Alan McLoughlin and Cian Lally clipped over for the visitors.
Points from Conor Love and Ryan Lyons put Fermanagh two ahead but Sligo answered with 1-3 in a five minute spell. Shane Deignan, Patrick O’Connor and Murphy landed points before Murphy then tucked to the net from close range to put the Yeatsmen into a 1-5 to 0-4 lead.
However, Fermanagh dictated matters for the remainder of the half as they turned the tie in their favour.
Garvan Jones drilled over a two point free and although Murphy replied with a free for Sligo, points from Jones, Love, Ronan McCaffrey and McGurn put Fermanagh into a three point lead.
And the home side rounded off the half with a fine two point effort from McCaffrey to leave it 0-14 to 1-6 at the break.
Sligo needed a big start to the second half and they got that as Murphy and O’Connor tagged on points before David Quinn fired over a two pointer to leave one between the sides.
Fermanagh though settled back to the task and Josh Largo Elis accounted for their first point of the half in the 47th minute before Joe McDade, Fionan O’Brien and Declan McCusker notched further scores to put the gap back out to five.
Murphy remained a threat for Sligo as he fisted over but Fermanagh answered straight away through Largo Elis.
However, a two pointer from O’Connor had Sligo within three as the contest moved into the final 10 minutes.
Fermanagh though showed composure in the latter stages as O’Brien popped over a free and McGurn slotted over to make it 0-21 to 1-13.
Pat Spillane responded with two pointer for Sligo and he also added a late point, but it was not enough for the away side as Fermanagh saw out the game to book their spot in the last four.
Scorers for Fermanagh: Garvan Jones 0-5 (1 2pt f, 2f), Ronan McCaffrey 0-3 (1 2pt), Conor Love 0-2, Josh Largo Elis 0-2, Ryan Lyons 0-2, Fionan O’Brien 0-2 (1f), Darragh McGurn 0-2, Joe McDade 0-1, Shane McGullion 0-1, Declan McCusker 0-1,
Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 1-4 (1f), Patrick O’Connor 0-4 (1 2pt), Pat Spillane 0-3 (1 2pt), David Quinn 0-2 (2pt), Cian Lally 0-1, Shane Deignan 0-1, Alan McLoughlin 0-1.
Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Lee Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Shane McGullion, Declan McCusker, Fionan O'Brien; Joe McDade, Darragh McGurn; Johnny Cassidy, Ryan Lyons, Ronan McCaffrey; Josh Largo Ellis, Garvan Jones, Conor Love.
Subs: Sean Cassidy for Garvan Jones (55), Conor McGee for Declan McCusker (59), Che Cullen for Joe McDade (70), Aogan Kelm for Ryan Lyons (70).
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Brian Cox; Mikey Gordon, Jack Lavin, Luke Towey; Canice Mulligan, Patrick O'Connor; Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Cian Lally; Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Shane Deignan.
Subs:Ross Doherty for Deignan (h/t), Pat Spillane for David Quinn (53), Lee Deignan for Mikey Gordon (59), Eoghan Smith for Alan Reilly (59), Paul McNamara for Jack Lavin (62).
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).
