Down escape stern Fermanagh test to advance to Ulster semi-final

Joe McDade of Fermanagh in action against Odhran Murdock of Down. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ulster SFC quarter-final: Fermanagh 0-23 (0-2-19) Down 2-19 (2-1-17) By 

Down advanced to the last-four of the Ulster Senior Football Championship with a dramatic victory over Fermanagh on Saturday evening in Brewster Park.

Down trailed by seven points but late goals from Daniel Guinness and McEvoy snatched victory at the death.

Momentum is everything and when Daniel McGuinness kicked a two-point score, it gave Down a lifeline before the goals sealed the deal.

It was Fermanagh who hit the front early on with a Darragh McGurn point and they could’ve added goal only for Garvan Jones to be denied by Down’s star man Ronan Burns.

Sean McNally drilled over the 45 before Odhrán Murdock opened Down’s account.

When Declan McCusker fisted the ball back to goalkeeper McNally, Havern tapped over a free to level the game.

In an entertaining game, it was end-to-end with both teams strong on the run.

Conor Love pulled another save out of Burns but the Down ‘keeper later saved from Ryan Lyons and Conor McGee.

At the other end, McNally tipped a James Guinness shot onto the post with Ché Cullen somehow getting across to block a certain goal from the rebound.

Down hit six points in eight minutes with Eugene Branagan (2) and Ceilum Doherty on target.

Daniel Guinness hit a rasper that pinged over off the crossbar as the first half somehow finished goalless.

The Erne County created three goal chances but didn’t take any and struggled when Down’s running game helped to lead by double figures, 0-10 to 0-5, after 25 minutes.

Fermanagh – who lost debutant Paul Breen to injury - had an extra man for the last 10 minutes of the first half after Pierce Laverty saw black for a trip on Shane McGullion.

Fionan O’Brien, Jones and Largo Elis pulled the home side back into the game at the break, trailing 0-11 to 0-8.

Daniel Guinness added a Down point before McDade pulled another save from Burns and McNally kicked the 45.

From the kick-out, Fermanagh took the margin back to a point with a Jones free.

Ryan Lyons and Conor Love added scores to level the game (0-12 all) after 41 minutes with Fermanagh’s direct running to the fore.

Love put Fermanagh ahead for the first time since the 18th minute with Lee Cullen lamping over a two-pointer for a 0-16 to 0-13 lead after 46 minutes.

Playing on his home pitch, Love was on fire and it was substitute Shay Millar who ended a scoreless 15-minute spell for Down only for Ronan McCaffrey to cancel it out for a 0-21 to 0-14 lead.

Ryan McEvoy hit a score before going down after going wholehearted into a 50-50 challenge with Erne ‘keeper McNally.

Daniel Guinness drilled a two-point score before his goal left two points between the sides, 0-22 to 1-17, with six minutes to go.

Odhrán Murdock plucked two late kick-outs with Pat Havern levelling the game with two to play.

When Oisin Smyth kicked the ball over the sideline, Down worked the ball for McEvoy’s goal.

Down will face the winners of Sunday’s last quarter-final between Donegal and Monaghan in next Sunday’s semi-final.

For Fermanagh, they will enter the Tailteann Cup when the All-Ireland series kicks into gear.

Scorers for Fermanagh: C Love 0-5, G Jones 0-4 (1f), S McNally 0-3 45s, J Cassidy, L Cullen (tp) D McGurn 0-2 each, F O’Brien (f), D McCusker, R Lyons, R McCaffrey and J Largo Elis 0-1 each.

Scorers for Down: D Guinness 1-4 (1 tp), R McEvoy 1-1, P Havern 0-4 (3f), E Bannigan, O Murdock, D Magill 0-2 each, R Burns 45, J McGeough, C Doherty and S Millar 0-1 each.

FERMANAGH: S McNally; C Cullen, L Cullen, O Smyth; J Cassidy, D McCusker, F O’Brien; J McDade, D McGurn; C McGee, R Lyons, P Breen; Josh Largo Elis, G Jones, C Love Subs: S McGullion for Breen (INJ 14), R McCaffrey for C Cullen (Blood sub 19, reversed 22), R McCaffrey for Lyons (53), S Cassidy for McGee (58) 

Yellow card: C Cullen (32).

DOWN: R Burns; P McCarthy, P Fegan, C Doherty; R McGill, P Laverty, M Rooney; D Guinness, R McEvoy; D McGill, O Murdock, E Branagan; J Guinness, P Havern, J McGeough 

Subs: A McClements for Rooney (47), S Millar for D Magill (48), C Mooney for Branagan (51), C McCrickard for J Guinness (54), P Brooks for McGeough (62).

Black card: P Laverty (26). 

Attendance: 4, 157.

Referee: J Henry (Mayo).