Love leads Fermanagh to top of group four to secure home quarter-final in Tailteann Cup

LOVE AFFAIR: Love was certainly in the air at Croke Park where Fermanagh forward Conor Love gave a terrific individual display to seal victory, top spot in Group 4 and a home quarter-final fixture. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon

Tailteann Cup Group 4: Fermanagh 0-25 (0-1-23) Wexford 1-17 (1-4-9)

The romance of the Tailteann Cup?

Love was certainly in the air at Croke Park where Fermanagh forward Conor Love gave a terrific individual display to seal victory, top spot in Group 4 and a home quarter-final fixture.

Love netted in Fermanagh's surprise Round one loss to Carlow and added 1-2 in the subsequent win over Longford but came of age on the bigger stage, scoring a whopping 0-9 at GAA HQ.

His very last score was the only one that wasn't from play as the Enniskillen man tortured the Wexford defence with an exhibition of point taking.

Wexford began the day top of the group themselves but must now settle for second position - edging out Carow on scoring difference - and a home preliminary quarter-final.

They led by two points at half-time but were overwhelmed after the break and slipped to their second Croke Park defeat this season after losing to Limerick in the Division 4 league final.

Darragh McGurn, wearing number nine but operating much closer to goal, impressed for Fermanagh too, pinching three points while Garvan Jones sniped their only two-pointer.

Joe McDade was influential as well for a Fermanagh side that suggested they have the quality to go at least a step further than their quarter-final placings in 2022 and 2024.

They trailed by six points after the opening quarter as Wexford struck 1-5 without response between the 12th and 18th minutes, opening up a 1-5 to 0-2 lead.

Sean Nolan struck the Wexford goal and finished with 1-4, helping his team to lead by 1-8 to 0-9 at half-time.

Fermanagh put clear daylight between the teams in the third quarter, slotting five single points in a row.

McGurn and Love notched two each during that period of dominance to leave Fermanagh two points clear, 0-14 to 1-9.

Wexford got it back to level terms at 1-13 to 0-16 but, crucially, never got on top again and Fermanagh pulled decisively clear in the closing 15 minutes or so.

Love added four more points in that final period as Wexford struggled to cope with his movement and razor sharp left foot.

Jones hoisted over Fermanagh's two-pointer in the 63rd minute, a timely score that left five between them.

Scorers for Fermanagh: C Love (0-9, 1 f); G Jones (0-4, 1tp, 1 f); D McGurn (0-3); F O'Brien (2 f), J McDade (0-2 each); R Lyons, Josh Largo Ellis, S McGullion, J Cassidy, R McCaffrey (0-1 each).

Scorers for Wexford: S Nolan (1-3, 0-2 frees); P Hughes (0-4, 1 tp); M Rossiter (1 tp), N Hughes (1 tp), G Malone, G Sheehan (1 tp) (0-2 each); M Furlong, J Higgins (0-1 each.

FERMANAGH: S McNally; O Smyth, L Cullen, L Flanagan; S McGullion, D McCusker, F O'Brien; J McDade, R Lyons; C McGee, Josh Largo Ellis, R McCaffrey; D McGurn, G Jones, C Love.

Subs: J Cassidy for Smyth (h/t); A Kelm for McGee (60); S Cassidy for Jones (63); Jack Largo Ellis for McCusker (65).

WEXFORD: D Brooks; M Furlong, G Sheehan, L O'Connor; G Malone, E Porter, M O'Connor; L Coleman, N Hughes; E Nolan, P Hughes, M Rossiter; K O'Grady, T Byrne, S Nolan.

Subs: J Higgins for Nolan (22); D Furlong for M Furlong (56); R Brooks for O'Grady (58); C Carty for Malone (63); B Brosnan for Nolan (68).

Referee: D Murnane (Cork).