Fermanagh run out impressive winners against Kildare

The Erne men were the better side throughout at Brewster Park. 

Kildare Manager Glenn Ryan. Picture: INPHO/James Lawlor

Fermanagh 2-10 Kildare 0-12 

Fermanagh picked up their first win in Division Two with a fine four-point victory over Kildare under the lights in Brewster Park.

The Erne men were the better side throughout the contest and apart from a period in the second half when the Lilywhites got within three points, Fermanagh controlled matters.

Fermanagh took advantage of a Kildare black card for Brian Byrne after 18 minutes gave them the cushion that they would never give up as they hit 1-03 to Kildare’s single point.

While Fermanagh controlled the opening exchanges, their discipline allowed Kildare to stay in the game with converted frees.

Lee Cullen opened the scoring from an almost impossible angle for Fermanagh after a minute, but Kildare responded through a free from goalkeeper Mark Donnellan.

Garvan Jones converted a free for the home side, but Jimmy Hyland cancelled it out from a placed ball.

Che Cullen replicated his brother with a fine score from distance but then again Kildare responded from a Paddy Woodgate free.

A hungry Fermanagh team then did well to win possession back and Declan McCusker played in Sean Cassidy to fire over to make it 0-04 to 0-03 after 18 minutes.

From the resultant kick-out, Kildare’s Byrne fumbled a short kick-out and it was claimed by Cassidy who was dragged down by a Kildare defender who was sent to the sin bin and Jones pointed the free.

Fermanagh were lucky after 24 minutes as a long ball into Ben McCormack was not dealt with and with Ross Bogue retreating, McCormack ended up being fouled to allow Hyland to knock over another free.

For the rest of the half Fermanagh made their dominance count on the scoreboard albeit with some great fortune.

First Ronan McCaffrey hit a great score off his left and this was followed by another good point from Declan McCusker off his weaker left foot.

With just over five minutes to play, McCusker was again played in space by Josh Largo-Elis and again he shot with his left foot but it dropped short Kildare keeper, Donnellan somehow dropped the ball into his net to leave it 1-07 to 0-04 at the break.

Kildare came out with more intent in the second half and with an extra man due to Fermanagh’s Shane McGullion being black-carded near the end of the first half, they hit the first two pints of the half.

Woodgate sold a brilliant dummy to give himself space to hit Kildare’s first score from play and this was followed by a Donnellan ’45.

Kevin Feely was then black carded for Kildare for dissent as Ultan Kelm converted a Fermanagh free for a foul on Brandon Horan to leave it 1-08 to 0-06 after 40 minutes.

All of those from Kildare in attendance were calling for a black card for McCusker after he brought down Alex Beirne as he went through on goal, but the referee decided it only merited a free which Hyland scored from.

Largo-Elis got on the end of a good Fermanagh move to score but Kildare responded through a good Kevin O’Callaghan score.

Another good Fermanagh move saw Kelm point but it was again cancelled out by a fine strike from corner back Mick O’Grady.

With 15 to play, there was only the goal in it when McCormack got his first score of the game.

But five minutes later, Fermanagh put too much between the sides with their second goal.

A fine kick out found Conor McShea who played it to McCaffrey, who fed Shane McGullion who in turn found Joe McDade and he slipped it to Cassidy who rounded the keeper for an easy finish.

Kildare did battle on and with scores from Hyland and McCormack, it cut the lead to four.

And there was drama right at the end as Kildare were awarded a penalty for a foot block but Feely’s attempt was well saved by Ross Bogue and the danger was cleared as Fermanagh ran out deserving winners.

Fermanagh: R Bogue; L Cullen (0-01), C Cullen (0-01), O Smyth; D McCusker (1-01), S McGullion, J Largo Elis (0-01); B Horan, J McDade; C McGee, R McCaffrey (0-01), C McShea; U Kelm (0-02,1f), G Jones (0-02,2f), S Cassidy (1-01) Subs: C McManus for McCusker; D King for Cassidy; T Bogue for McShea (all 73mins) 

Kildare: M Donnellan (0-02,1f,1 45); M O’Grady (0-01), S Ryan, E Doyle; K Flynn, J Sargent, B Byrne; K Feely, K O’Callaghan (0-01); A Beirne, B McCormack (0-02), A O’Neill; P Woodgate (0-02,1f), S O’Sullivan, J Hyland (0-04, 3f) Subs: L Killian for O’Neill, R Houlihan for Byrne (both H/T), C Bolton for O’Sullivan (48 mins), A Masterson for Woodgate, P McDermott for Doyle (both 66 mins) 

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)