Defeat in Fermanagh increases relegation fears for Tipperary footballers

Fermanagh 2-11 Tipperary 0-8

Goals win matches, as Fermanagh showed as they took a step closer to promotion from division three of the Allianz National Football League after this nine-point win over Tipperary in Ederney on Sunday.

However, the defeat means that Tipperary must win both of their remaining games, at home to Offaly on Saturday, March 18 and away to Westmeath on Sunday, March 26, to have any hope of avoiding relegation and a rapid return to division four.

Sean Quigley and Aidan Breen blasted home the vital goals in the 10th and 28th minutes that gave Fermanagh a pretty unassailable lead.

Tipperary battled well for long periods but were not able to make any real impression on the athletic home side.

However, the goals were still needed, as Fermanagh hit nine wides from scorable positions in that first half and failed to score for 15 minutes.

But even though they won by a clear nine points, it was a patchy performance from the home side, who nevertheless never looked like losing against a physically powerful Tipp side.

This defeat for David Power’s men means they have real relegation worries as the league heads into the fortnight’s break.
Fermanagh can now look forward to a crunch home match with Westmeath on March 18.

Wind-assisted Fermanagh had a nervous start but opened their scoring when marksman Sean Quigley converted a mark after four minutes.

Kevin Fahey responded for Tipp in a tepid opening ten minutes, as Fermanagh’s Tommy McCaffrey hit a glorious point from the side line for the home side, who also hit two bad wides.

However, they got the boost they needed in the 10th minute when a surging run from Ultan Kelm saw his screaming shot blocked by Tipperary ‘keeper Michael O’Reilly. But Quigley pounced and volleyed the rebound to the roof of the net.

Tipperary hit back with a fine point from midfielder Jack Kennedy in the 12th minute.

The home side had loads of possession but hit five bad wides and did not score again for a full fifteen minutes.

Tipp were struck a heavy blow when they lost influential midfielder Jack Kennedy to a black card for a challenge on Fermanagh’s Brandon Horan in the 18th minute.

They were also unlucky two minutes later when they breached the Fermanagh defence, but Erne goalie Sean McNally somehow managed to smother Mark Stokes’ scrambled effort away to safety.

Fermanagh emerged from their slumber through an Aidan Breen point.

And it got even better for them in the 28th minute when Tipp ‘keeper O’Reilly was badly caught out in the Fermanagh half.
From the turnover, Tommy McCaffrey and Sean Quigley combined to set up Breen, who slid the ball low to the net, with O’Reilly still on his way back to base.

Emboldened, the home side hit another point from Josh Largo Ellis.

O’Reilly converted a 45 for Tipperary, but Lee Cullen scored the point of the half when he galloped 60 metres and struck a fine point from 40 metres to put Fermanagh into a 2-6 to 0-3 lead in a half where they also posted nine wides.

Both sides threw on a number of subs in a pretty turgid second half, where scores were at a premium.

The impressive Teddy Doyle hit two points on the bounce for the visitors but this was quickly cancelled by two Erne points from man of the match Shane McGullion, and Breen.

The pace dropped considerably in this half, as Fermanagh tagged on just five points playing into the breeze.

Tipp had a bit more possession in the second half and had another great chance of a goal but Fermanagh ‘keeper McNally somehow managed to smother Jimmy Feehan’s shot.

Fermanagh sub Ciaran Corrigan rounded off the scoring with two well-taken points.

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Lee Cullen (1-0), Jonathan Cassidy; Aidan Breen (1-2), Shane McGullion (0-2), Ronan McCaffey; Ryan Jones, Brandon Horan; Josh Largo Ellis (0-1) Ryan Lyons, Ultan Kelm; Conor McGee, Sean Quigley (1-1), Tommy McCaffrey (0-1).

Subs: Garvan Jones (0-1) for Ryan Lyons (25 minutes), Declan McCusker for Aidan Breen, Ciaran Corrigan (0-2, 1 free) for Conor McGee (45 minutes), Che Cullen for Luke Flanagan (50 minutes), Diarmuid King (0-1) for Sean Quigley (65 minutes).

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly; Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Willie Eviston; Emmet Moloney, Kevin Fahey (0-1), Colm O’Shaughnessy; Paudie Feehan, Jack Kennedy (0-3, 2 frees), Mark Stokes, Donough Leahy, Teddy Doyle (0-3); Colman Kennedy, Conor Cadell, Sean O’Connor.

Subs: Mark Russell for Coleman Kennedy (43 minutes), Rian Quigley for Conor Cadell (46 minutes), Stephen Quirke for Sean O’Connell (48 minutes), Cathal Deely (0-1) for Willie Eviston (50 minutes), Luke Boland for Donough Leahy (56 minutes).

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh).