Tailteann Cup Group Four

Fermanagh 1-19 Leitrim 2-7

By Gareth Cauldwell at Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada

Fermanagh set up a top of the clash against Antrim in their concluding Tailteann Cup Group Four game following a comfortable nine-point victory over Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon this evening. 

With Sean Quigley giving the home defence all sorts of problems in the first half, including setting up a goal for Ryan Lyons, Fermanagh went in at half time with an eight-point lead, 1-9 to 0-4. 

However, the home side turned the game on its head in the early stages of the second half as first Paul Keaney and then Mark Plunkett found the net as Leitrim cut the gap back to two points. 

But Fermanagh were able to settle back into the game and they hit a series of points over the remainder of the half to pull away and seal a deserving victory. 

It was Andy Moran’s Leitrim outfit though who showed the greater intent in the opening minutes of the contest as Oisin McLoughlin converted two marks while they also carved out two early goal chances. 

Fermanagh goalkeeper Sean McNally was called into action as he saved from Keaney while Tom Prior then cut in from the left, but he fired wide. 

Fermanagh began to settle to the task after this and Quigley was much to the fore as they went on to hit seven points in a row. 

The Erne full forward drilled over a free kick from the right-hand side line to open his Fermanagh's account and he added on a further three points, including two from play. Ryan Lyons also chipped in with two frees while Tommy McCaffrey fisted over the bar to make it 0-7 to 0-2 by the 20th minute. 

Leitrim did cut the gap back to three with points from Donal Wrynn and a Keaney free, but Fermanagh then responded with a goal. 

Sharp thinking by Quigley saw him take a quick free to pick out Lyons and he finished from close range to make it 1-7 to 0-4. 

And with Lyons and Ryan Jones adding on fine points from play Fermanagh went in at the break with a commanding 1-9 to 0-4 lead. 

Leitrim though came roaring back into contention at the start of the second half. 

A high ball by Darragh Rooney saw Keaney beat Lee Cullen and goalkeeper McNally to palm to the net and although Fermanagh answered with a Lyons point, Leitrim swept down the other end to register their second goal. 

Rooney slipped in Plunkett, and he finished low to the net to lift the home support in Pairc Sean MacDiarmada. 

Indeed, it got even louder moments later when midfielder Pearse Dolan then slotted over a point as the Fermanagh lead was trimmed back to two points, 1-10 to 2-5. 

With the pressure on though Fermanagh found the right response as they rattled off the next five points of the contest. 

Josh Largo Elis, Ryan Jones, Conor McShea and a brace from substitute Garvan Jones put Kieran Donnelly’s side back in the driving seat as they opened up a seven-point lead. 

Leitrim did keep battling and Tom Prior and Keaney (f) tagged on scores for the home side, but Fermanagh remained in control and with Luke Flanagan, Brandon Horan, Lyons and Ultan Kelm knocking over points they finished up comprehensive 1-19 to 2-7 victors. 

Scorers for Fermanagh: R Lyons 1-5 (3fs), S Quigley 0-4 (2fs), R Jones 0-2, G Jones 0-2, J Largo Elis 0-1, L Flanagan 0-1 (m), B Horan 0-1, C McShea 0-1, T McCaffrey 0-1, U Kelm 0-1

Scorers for Leitrim: P Keaney 1-2 (2f), M Plunkett 1-0, O McLoughlin 0-2 (2m), P Dolan 0-1, D Wrynn 0-1, T Prior 0-1 

Fermanagh: S McNally; J Largo Elis, C Cullen, L Flanagan; S McGullion, L Cullen, D McCusker; R Jones, B Horan; C McShea, R Lyons, R McCaffrey; T McCaffrey, S Quigley, U Kelm 

Subs: G Cavanagh for R McCaffrey (h/t), G Jones for J Largo Elis (51), C Jones for Quigley (56), A Breen for McGullion (66), O Smyth for McCusker (70).

Leitrim: D Maxwell, P Maguire, M Diffley, O McLoughlin; C McGloin, S Quinn, A Flynn; P Dolan, D Wrynn; D Rooney, P Keaney, M Plunkett; J Heslin, B McNulty, T Prior 

Subs: D Flynn for McLoughlin (55), C Farrell for McGloin (56), R Oberwan for Prior (60), P Moran for Plunkett (68), T Quinn for Heslin (68).

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down).