Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Final

Laois 1-11 Fermanagh 1-9

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Laois put their name in the hat for the draw for the quarter finals of the Tailteann Cup with a hard fought win over 14-man Fermanagh at Brewster Park.

Billy Sheehan's side looked to be in the driving seat as they led by two at half time and had the numerical advantage too after Ryan Jones was red carded late in the first half.

But Fermanagh replied well at the start of the second half and four points in a row appeared to have them in control.

However, after Mark Timmons and Sean Quigley exchanged goals, Laois were able to show more composure in the closing stages as they pushed on for the win.

The early stages of the game were low key with Fermanagh opening the scoring through Che Cullen following a rampaging run before Laois answered with a Mark Barry free.

Paul Kingston then nudged the away side ahead before Shane McGullion replied for Fermanagh to leave it 0-2 apiece after 12 minutes.

However, Laois started to gain a degree of control on proceedings over the next period and with Evan O'Carroll, Timmons and Colm Murphy landing points they moved into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Fermanagh's most incisive move of the half almost resulted in a goal to level things as Johnny Cassidy slipped in Shane McGullion, but his powerful shot thumped off the crossbar.

McGullion and O'Carroll then traded points before the Ernemen were reduced to 14-men in the 33rd minute, referee Barry Judge red carded Jones following an off the ball incident with Damon Larkin.

McGullion did land the last point of the half for Fermanagh, but at the break it was the away side who led 0-6 to 0-4.

Fermanagh finally appeared to find their feet at the start of the second half as Luke Flanagan, Conor McGee, Ryan Lyons and Brandon Horan all fired over points as they turned a two-point deficit into a two-point advantage, 0-8 to 0-6.

Just though when it seemed that the Ernemen had wrestled control of the contest Laois struck for a goal as a patient build up saw them work Timmons in and he made no mistake with a clinical finish.

When O'Carroll followed up with a point it put the visitors two up but back came Fermanagh and Quigley palmed to the net after Ultan Kelm's initial shot was saved by Laois netminder Killian Roche.

A Kingston free saw the sides level once more though with 15 minutes to go and Kingston and Lyons then swapped points as it remained level with five minutes to play.

However, Laois edged back in front through a Barry mark and after Fermanagh missed a couple of chances to tie it up again, Barry made sure of the win for Laois with another point deep in added on time as they ran out two-point victors.

Scorers for Laois: M Timmons 1-1, P Kingston 0-3 (2f), M Barry 0-3 (1m, 1f), E O'Carroll 0-3 (1m), C Murphy 0-1

Scorers for Fermanagh: R Lyons 0-3 (1f), S Quigley 1-0, S McGullion 0-2, L Flanagan 0-1, C Cullen 0-1, B Horan 0-1, C McGee 0-1

Laois: K Roche; S Greene, T Collins, R Pigott; P Kirwan, M Timmons, P O’Sullivan; K Lillis, D Larkin; C Murphy, P Kingston, J Finn; M Barry, E O’Carroll, E Lowry 

Subs: K Swayne for Murphy (55), D Kavanagh for Timmons (59), N Corbet for Finn (70+3).

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

Subs: G Jones for T McCaffrey (25), C McGee for Breen (28), C McShea for Quigley (56), J Largo Elis for MvcCusker (63), C Corrigan for McGullion (70).

Referee: Barry Judge (Sligo).