Tailteann Cup PQF: Fermanagh win again

Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Final

Fermanagh 3-27 New York 1-13

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Fermanagh secured their place in the Tailteann Cup quarter final with a comprehensive victory over New York in Brewster Park.

The Ernemen started the contest with intent as they raced into a 1-6 to 0-1 advantage by the eighth minute and although New York did settle into the game, Fermanagh led by seven at half time.

However, the visitors were reduced to 14 men early in the second half when Cian O’Dea picked up a second yellow card and Fermanagh were able to control matters as they eased to the win and a spot in the last eight.

Declan Bonner’s outfit began the game on the front foot with the lively Mattie McDermott tuck away the first goal of the encounter in the third minute after being picked out by Conor O'Hanlon.

With Joe McDade, Conor Love, Shane McGullion and O’Hanlon all tagging on points the home side carved out an early eight point lead.

New York though hit back with a goal of their own after 11 minutes as Killian Butler fired to the net after Jimmy O’Grady’s initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Sean McNally.

Butler also chipped over a point for New York but with Ronan McCaffrey, Love and Garvan Jones among the points, Fermanagh led 1-10 to 1-2 with 25 minutes on the clock.

Scores from Jack McKenna, Tiarnan Mathers and a two pointer from Frank O’Reilly closed New York back to within six points but UIltan Klem registered the final score of the half to leave Fermanagh 1-13 to 1-6 ahead at the break.

A McDermott free extended that advantage on the resumption before New York had O’Dea dismissed for a second yellow card.

Fermanagh were able to dominate from this point as they hit a flurry of points through McDermott, Sean McNally, Love and Conor McGee.

O’Reilly notched New York’s first score of the half when he converted a two point free in the 48th minute but Fermanagh went on to bag their second goal as substitute Aogan Kelm marked his introduction with a rasping drive to the roof of the net to make it 2-20 to 1-9.

McDade, O’Hanlon and McNally knocked over further points for the home side before they accounted for their third goal as Darragh McGurn scrambled the ball to the net after goalkeeper Callum Dungan had denied McDermott.

Indeed, Dungan pulled off a number of fine saves to stop Fermanagh adding further to their total.

In fairness to New York, they kept battling away to the end and O’Reilly tagged on three points but McGurn did likewise for the Ernemen as they ran out 3-27 to 1-13 winners.

Scorers for Fermanagh: Darragh McGurn 1-3, Mattie McDermott 1-2 (1f), Joe McDade 0-4, Aogan Kelm 1-0, Conor Love 0-3, Ronan McCaffrey 0-3, Garvan Jones 0-3 (1 tpf), Sean McNally 0-3 (3’45), Conor O’Hanlon 0-3 (1 tp), Shane McGullion 0-1, Conor McGee 0-1, Ultan Kelm 0-1

Scorers for New York: Frank O’Reilly 0-7 (2 tpf, 1 tp), Killian Butler 1-1, Jack McKenna 0-2, Conor Keenan 0-1, JJimmy O’Grady 0-1, Tiarnan Mathers 0-1.

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Garvan Jones, Oisin Smyth; Shane McGullion; Jonathan Cassidy, Ronan McCaffrey, Josh Largo Elis; Conor McGee, Stephen McGullion; Ultan Kelm, Joe McDade; Conor Love, Darragh McGurn, Mattie McDermott.

Subs: Sean Cassidy for Garvan Jones (h/t), Oisin Kelm for Ultan Kelm (47), Aogan Kelm for Conor Love (53), Ciaran Corrigan for Conor McGee (55), Lughaidh Donnelly for Joe McDade (57)

New York: Callum Dungan; Tadhg O’Riordan, Sean Wilson, Cian O’Dea; David Naughton, Matthew Queenan, Rob Wharton; James Walsh, John Oates; Shane Brosnan, Frank O’Reilly, Tiarnan Mathers; Jimmy O’Grady, Jack McKenna, Killian Butler.

Subs: Adam Loughlin Stones for John Oates (23), Michael Argue for Killian Butler (46), Conor Keenan for Tiarnan Mathers (53), Jack Healy for Matthew Queenan (53), Oisin Mathers for Jack McKenna (57)

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)