NFL: Fermanagh sparkle in Kildare clash

Fermanagh 1-13 Kildare 1-09

Fermanagh put on a sparking display in front of home support to halt Kildare's recent good run.

Raymond Gallagher sent them on their way with a goal in the opening minutes and at half time they led by 1-08 to 1-04.

But the story of the half was Tadg Fennin's goal miss in the 20th minute. With only the goalkeeper to beat, he screwed his shot wide from close range.

It was 10 minutes before Kildare opened their account with a Karl O'Dwyer free. However, the Kildare forwards got little chance out of a tight-marking Fermanagh defence.

All that changed however in the 22nd minute when a ball was fisted clear - but only as far as David Jordan who volleyed it to the roof of net.

Both teams were short key players and each suffered a setback for the second half with Fermanagh losing corner forward Colm Bradley to concussion.

He had helped himself to key points from play and gave his marker a torrid time.

Likewise, Karl O'Dwyer was replaced having suffered a dead leg.

Fermanagh regained their scoring touch and points from Rory Gallagher (two) and his cousin Raymond restored a four-point advantage.

Fennin, who tried hard to redeem himself after his goal miss, added two more points to Kildare's total but it did nothing to deprive Fermanagh of a deserved victory.