Fermanagh hold off Antrim to secure McKenna Cup progress

 

Dr McKenna Cup Section C: Antrim 1-9 Fermanagh 1-10 

FERMANAGH's opening fixture of 2024 proved to be a successful one as they held on for a one-point win over Antrim at a sunny yet chilly Ahoghill on Sunday.

Kieran Donnelly's men effectively led from start to finish, but had to withstand a late Antrim charge as the hosts got to within one on a couple of occasions, but couldn't get themselves level as their Bank of Ireland
Dr McKenna Cup campaign came to an end.

Fermanagh were much quicker to settle in icy conditions with Sean Cassidy and Garvan Jones kicking early scores.

Ronan Boyle got Antrim off the mark, but the Ernesiders hit the next three to lead 0-5 to 0-1 midway through the opening period.

Antrim had been looking to go direct to full-forward Ruairi McCann and this tactic finally paid off on 21 minutes as his namesake from Creggan went long with the Aghagallon man breaking it to Benen Kelly to finish to the net.

Sean Cassidy responded with a Fermanagh score with Eunan Walsh slinging over one of his own for Antrim to bring the gap down to one, but the visitors would get a goal of their own just before the break as Josh Largo-Ennis made the break, fed inside to Ché Cullen who teed-up his broker Lee to palm home and leave it 1-6 to 1-2 at the half.

Antrim looked to have a much greater intent from the start of the second period with Conor Hand kicking an early point and although Ronan McCaffrey hit back, further points from a Luke Mulholland 45 and Marc Jordan left two in it.

The Ernesiders were able to manage the lead well and had the gap back to four through Ulstan Kelm and substitute Conor Love, but they would then lose substitute Ryan Lyons to a black card on 53 minutes.

Antrim looked to take advantage, whittling the gap back to one with Walsh, Oisin Doherty and Joseph Finnegan on target, but they couldn't engineer the equaliser with Fermanagh assured in possession and they would break after an elongated period with the ball as Diarmuid King finished a move.

A Doherty free late in stoppage time left just one in it again, but Fermanagh held firm to claim the points ahead of their home game against Monaghan on Wednesday to decide which of them reaches the last four.

Scorers for Antrim: B Kelly (1-0); E Walsh, O Doherty (1 free) (0-2 each); R Boyle, C Hand, M Jordan, J Finnegan, L Mulholland (45) (0-1 each).

Scorers for Fermanagh: L Cullen (1-0); R McCaffrey, S Cassidy, G Jones (1 free)(0-2 each); U Kelm, O Smyth, D King, C Love (free)(0-1 each).

ANTRIM: Luke Mulholland; Oran Downey, Eunan Walsh, Ronan Boyle; Benen Kelly, Joseph Finnegan, Ruairi McCann (Creggan); Paddy McAleer, Eunan Quinn; Conor Hand, Eoin Hynds, Cormac McGettigan; Dominic McEnhill, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Marc Jordan.

Subs: Paddy McBride for E Hynds (21), Declan Lynch for B Kelly (HT), Colm McLarnon for C McGettigan (47), Kavan Keenan for P McBride (52), Oisin Doherty for R McCann (Agahallon, 53), Calum Higgins for D McEnhill (57), Aidan McAleese for R McCann (Creggan, 61), Michael Byrne for L Mulholland (63), John Morgan for O Downey (67).

FERMANAGH: Sean McNally; Lee Cullen, Ché Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Declan McCusker, Shane McGullion, Josh Largo-Ennis; Brandon Horan, Conor McGee; Aidan Breen, Ronan McCaffrey, Conor McShea; Ultan Kelm, Garvan Jones, Sean Cassidy.

Subs: Diarmuid King for G Jones (49), Conor Love for S Cassidy (49), Joe McDade for A Breen (54), Ryan Lyons for S McGullion (57), Cian McManus for C McShea (67), Tiarnan Bogue for Y Kelm (70).

Referee: Chris Brady (Monaghan)