SFC Qualifier: Ernemen march on as Model bow out

June 25, 2016

Fermanagh's Eoin Donnelly gets ahead of Wexford's Daithi Waters
©INPHO

Fermanagh are into the second round of the Qualifiers thanks to this 0-19 to 1-11 victory over Wexford at Wexford Park.

Not for the first time, Tomas Corrigan (0-9) was top scorer for the victors as they booked their place alongside Limerick, Longford, Offaly, Cork, Mayo, Donegal or Monaghan and Kildare or Westmeath in Round 2B.

Eoin Donnelly's late strike ensured the border county of a narrow 0-10 to 1-6 advantage at the end of a closely-contested opening period.

As the northerners arrived late at the venue, throw-in was delayed for 15 minutes, but the Ernemen were quick into their stride when the action commenced as Sean Quigley and Corrigan pointed frees either side of a converted Donal Shanley free at the other end.

Quigley's brace made it 0-4 to 0-1 and Corrigan grabbed his second in between two more Shanley frees - 0-5 to 0-3 after 14 minutes. Aidan Breen's score made it double scores at the midway stage in the first half but back came the Model with Shanley's fourth free and a John Tubritt effort to close within one.

The hosts hit the front when Simon Donohoe netted in the 21st minute, 1-5 to 0-6; the retort was an amazing Quigley point for the visitors before Barry Mulrone drew Pete McGrath's charges level again with seven minutes left in the first half.

Corrigan smashed over the third successive Fermanagh score but Ben Brosnan tied the scores up again three minutes from the short whistle. It was left to visiting captain Donnelly to knock over the point that separated the teams at the interval.

The away side took control upon the restart and outscored their hosts by six points to three in the next 25 minutes to lead by 0-16 to 1-9 after an hour. Tubritt and Brosnan had the Slaneysiders ahead but Corrigan replied with a brace and Kevin O'Grady equalised again.

Now the winners kicked on: Tomas (3) and Ruairi Corrigan left four between the teams; Ryan Jones hit his side's fifth consecutive point and Tubritt replied with Wexford's first score in some 22 minutes. Shane Roche closed the gap to three with as many minutes remaining.

Fittingly, Corrigan clipped over the last point as Fermanagh sealed their place in Monday's draw.

Fermanagh - C Snow; M Jones, C Cullen, M O'Brien; D McCusker, J McMahon, A Breen (0-2); E Donnelly (0-2), R O'Callaghan; B Mulrone (0-1), R Jones, P McCusker; R Corrigan (0-1), S Quigley (0-4, 2f), T Corrigan (0-9, 5f). Subs: C McManus for M Jones, C Flaherty for R O'Callaghan (BC), J Duffy for P McCusker, D Kelly for D McCusker.

Wexford - A Masterson; J Rossiter, N Rossiter, J Wadding; B Malone, S Byrne, S Donohoe (1-0); C Kehoe, D Waters; K O'Grady (0-1), A Flynn, E Nolan; D Shanley (0-4f), B Brosnan (0-2), J Tubritt (0-3). Subs: PJ Banville for S Byrne, K Butler for A Flynn, S Roche (0-1) for D Shanley,  R Tierney for K O'Grady, P Murphy for A Masterson.

Referee - E Kinsella.


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