Fermanagh Topple Mournemen

By Denis O'Brien

Fermanagh continued with last year's winning ways as their more determined and better disciplined side deservedly ousted Down in the opening round of the Ulster Football Championship at Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Sunday.

There was never a lot between these two teams as they swapped the lead six times before the half-time mark.

When Down built up a two-point gap on the Ernesiders early in the second half, you might have thought that the team that had shown the better form in the league in getting to a Divison Three final, would kick on from there.

Wrong. It was Fermanagh, showing a greater degree of determination and focus, who seized the initiative and shortly after, the Erne men had teams level.

As rain poured down, it was Fermanagh who attacked in numbers and Down weren't able to prevent the wave after wave of assaults and lack of discipline on the Mourne men's part saw them give away frees that the excellent Ryan Carson was only too happy to put between the posts.

In the last ten minutes, Fermanagh pulled three points clear with Down powerless to stop the home side's surge.

Frustration on Down's part saw Aidan Carr shown a red card in injury time for a totally unnecessary fowl on Martin McGrath.

The game was by no means champagne stuff but rather a scrappy start to this year's championship on home soil.

Down's ace forward, Benny Coulter started, though he carried a leg injury, and despite scoring a point from play in each half, his lack of fitness prevented him from asserting his usual goal-scoring threat.

The Ernesiders were quick off the mark in front of the home crowd when impressive wing back Tommy McElroy and the equally influential midfielder James Sherry opened the scoring with two fine points. Aidan Carr replied with a pointed free before Coulter uncharacteristically decided to take a point when a goal chance may have been on.

Fermanagh showed the better movement from midfield on and excellent distance point shooting was a feature of their early play.

Ryan Keenan, Mark Little and full-forward and championship debutant Ryan Carson looked dangerous when on the ball with the latter getting in for a good point before the break.

Down's Stephen Kearney replied in injury time to level the scores at 0-7 a piece at the interval in a game full of championship butterflies. Little separated the teams and it wasn't yet clear as to who the eventual winner might be.

The early restart saw Down Under-21 star, corner-forward Paul McCumiskey's fist over for his second point of the game before Coulter angled over a superb point from near the stand sideline to see his side go two clear.

Then Fermanagh's Marty McGrath had half a goal chance but his shot blazed past the right hand post. Carson from a free and Danny Hughes exchanged scores before Fermanagh showing a renewed sense of urgency began to mount constant pressure on Down's rearguard.

This lead to needless frees from Down and the accurate Carson was only too happy to oblige and he had the sides level with 10 minutes left to play.

From here on it was all Fermanagh as they ran at Down at every opportunity.

Ciaran McElroy pushed the home side ahead with a fine point before Carson was again on song when converting two important frees to stretch the margin to three.

In the closing stages, Down were unable to respond with a score and they lacked leadership on the field when they needed it most.

Fermanagh looked the more determined outfit and fully deserved their three-point win and can look forward to a meeting with neighbors Cavan now in early June. Down meanwhile, will have to regroup and the qualifier route might suit some of their less experienced young players.