Fermanagh secure famous win

Fermanagh 1-12 Meath 0-9

Dominic Corrigan devoted Fermanagh's finest hour to his seriously ill brother.

Amid scenes of wild euphoria at Clones, the Erne boss turned his thoughts towards older brother Dessie.

"He wanted to see us beat Meath, so he stayed for this one," said an emotional Corrigan following his side's marvellous 1-12 to 0-9 win over the Royals.

And skipper Raymond Gallagher said that news of Dessie's illness had given the side another reason to win this one.

"Dom should really have been at his brother's bedside, but he wanted to be with us today, and that was what his brother told him. He told Dom: 'go out and make sure the team get a win, and I'll be a happy man'.

"We dedicate that win to Dom and to his brother today."

Meath should have had more to show for their dominance throughout the opening quarter than a three points lead, garnered through scores from centre back Hank Traynor, Trevor Giles and Graham Geraghty's fisted effort.

Giles' score from a 45 contrasted sharply with two easier frees which he dropped short, and once Fermanagh finally settled, they reeled off three points of their own, from James Sherry, Raymond Gallagher and Ryan Keenan, to draw level by the 26th minute.

By that time the Royals had lost ace attacker Ollie Murphy, still clearly troubled by a shoulder injury, but they regained the edge in a mediocre first half to finish strongly.

Substitute Ray Magee converted a free, and Geraghty drifted deep to launch the best move of the half, freeing Nigel Crawford to set up midfield partner Charles McCarthy for a fine score.

Meath led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, but Raymond Gallagher almost single-handedly led a roaring Fermanagh comeback on the restart.

First he collected Ryan Keenan's knockdown to smash home a superb goal, then landed two points, one a wonderful acute angle effort from play.

Tom Brewster and substitute Kieran Donnelly also chipped in with points, and by the 15th minute of the half, the Erne men had transformed a two point deficit into a 1-8 to 0-6 lead.

Richie Kealy and Giles, from a 50 metre free, gave Sean Boylan's side renewed hope, but the impressive Donnelly and the rampant Gallagher regained control for the Ulster side, and Tom Brewster steered over two 45s to make doubly sure.

Meath: Cormac Sullivan, Niall McKeigue, Daren Fay, Cormac Murphy, Paddy Reynolds, Hank Traynor (0-1), Nigel Nestor, Nigel Crawford (0-1), Charles McCarthy (0-1), Evan Kelly, Trevor Giles (0-2, 2f), John Cullinane, Ollie Murphy, Graham Geraghty (0-1), David Crimmins.

Subs: Ray Magee (0-2, 1f) for O Murphy, R Kealy (0-1) for Cullinane, Barry Callaghan for Crimmins, Adrian Kenny for Kelly, Anthony Moyles for Kealy

Fermanagh: Ronan Gallagher, Ryan McCloskey, Barry Owens, Michael Lilly, Shane McDermott, Kieran Gallagher, Neil Cox, Paul Brewster, Martin McGrath, Tom Brewster (0-3, 2f), Raymond Gallagher (1-5, 1f), Ryan Keenan (0-1), Ronan McCabe, Stephen Maguire, James Sherry (0-1).

Subs: Kieran Donnelly (0-2) for McCabe, C Bradley for Sherry, Shaun Doherty for Maguire, Hugh Brady for Lilly, Niall Keenan for McDermott.

Referee: Paddy Russell (Tipperary)