Allianz Football League Division 2

FERMANAGH 0-8 CORK 1-5

By Orla Bannon at Brewster Park

A Conall Jones free in the fifth minute of injury time rescued a point for Fermanagh at Brewster Park on their return to Division Two of the Allianz Football League.

It looked like Cork, who played the last 32 minutes at Brewster Park with 14 players after Ruairi Deane picked up a second yellow card, would travel home with two league points when Matthew Taylor scored a goal after 60 minutes.

Fermanagh missed several chances to equalise while Luke Connolly squandered a good attacking opportunity for Cork in injury time before a contentious free earned Rory Gallagher's side what could turn out to be be a vital point.

Cork were caught in possession and Ryan Jones kicked a long pass in to his brother Conall, who caught it and called a mark.

Cork argued the referee hadn't blown his whistle before they tried to wrestle back the ball, but Anthony Nolan instead awarded Fermanagh a free and brought it forward, with Jones converting the chance with the last kick of the game.

It was all a bit of a struggle for both sides with packed defences and scores at a premium.

Fermanagh opened the scoring in the third minute with a Conall Jones free but didn't raise a white flag for the remainder of the half.

Cork's first three attacks were turned over by a well-organised, committed Erne defence but Luke Connolly finally got them on the scoreboard in the eighth minute with a right-footed point.

Two of their league debutants Damien Gore and Eoghan McSweeney put Cork in front.

Gore took an offensive mark and converted it in the 16th minute and after 14 long, scoreless minutes McSweeney burst through the middle, broke the tackle and scored a lovely curling point on the run.

Cork led 0-4 to 0-1 at the break but Fermanagh were the better side in the third quarter and five of their starting six forwards scored from play.

Sean Quigley also nailed a free as they turned the game around to lead 0-7 to 0-5 after 53 minutes.

Taylor's goal was a big score in such a low-scoring game. Ian Maguire fed the ball inside and he went around the 'keeper to bury the ball high into the left hand corner.

Fermanagh kicked eight second-half wides but got one more chance to equalise which Jones converted.

Scorers for Fermanagh: Conall Jones 0-3 (2f), Aidan Breen, Declan McCusker, Ciaran Corrigan, Daniel Teague 0-1 each, Sean Quigley 0-1 (f)

Scorers for Cork: Matthew Taylor 1-0, Luke Connolly 0-2, Eoghan McSweeney, James Loughrey 0-1 each, Damien Gore 0-1 (m)

FERMANAGH: Thomas Treacy; Jonny Cassidy, Che Cullen, Lee Cullen; Ultan Kelm, James McMahon, Kane Connor; Eoin Donnelly, Ryan Jones; Aidan Breen, Declan McCusker, Ciaran Corrigan; Daniel Teague, Conall Jones, Kevin McDonnell. Subs: Sean Quigley for McDonnell (23), Ryan Lyons for Connor (HT), Garvan Jones for Teague (55), Daragh McGurn for McMahon (65), Shane McGullion for McCusker (70)

CORK: Mark White; Kevin O'Donovan, Kevin Flahive, Conor Dennehy; James Loughrey, Stephen Cronin, Matthew Taylor; Ian Maguire, Ronan Toole; Tom Clancy, Eoghan McSweeney, Ruairi Deane; Damien Gore, Brian Hurley, Luke Connolly. Subs: Michael Hurley for Brian Hurley (51), Cillian O'Hanlon for Toole (51), John O'Rourke for Gore (55), Liam O'Donovan for Loughrey (55), Sean White for McSweeney (66)

REFEREE: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)