Offaly 1-13
Fermanagh 1-10

A second-half goal from Ciaran McManus proved the difference as Offaly gained a crucial first win over Fermanagh at Tullamore yesterday in the NFL Division Three.

The Faithful men had underlined their intent early on in this encounter as they opened a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes, but a Daryl Keenan goal quickly levelled matter for Fermanagh. James Sherry then moved the Ernesiders in front before the hosts hit back with John Reynolds to the fore to take in a 0-9 to 1-5 lead at half-time.

Fermanagh had corner-back Martin O'Brien sent off three minutes before the break following an off-the-ball incident and would rue the defender's loss in the second-half, despite Keenan and Ciaran Flaherty pointing them back in front in the first six minutes.

Offaly responded through a fine score from Niall McNamee and stunned their opponents in the 45th minute when McManus started a move from his own defence and finished it past Ronan Gallagher in the Fermanagh goal.

The veteran's strike gave Offaly a three-point lead and even though Fermanagh hit more scores, the home side were equal in response to pick up their first two points of the campaign.

Offaly - A Mulhall; M Conlon, C Kiely, S Pender; R Dalton (0-1) , S Sullivan, K Slattery (0-1) ; C Carroll, B Connor (0-1); D Egan (0-1), J Reynolds (0-4), C McManus (1-0); R Brady (0-1, free), K Casey (0-3, 2f), N McNamee (0-1). Subs: S Ryan for R Brady, A Sullivan for McNamee (both 46 mins), P Sullivan for Egan (61 mins), S Brady for McManus (64 mins), P McConway for Carroll (66 mins).

Fermanagh - Ronan Gallagher; M Jones, S Lyons, M O'Brien; P Sherry, B Mulrone, T McElroy (0-1); J Sherry (0-2), R Jones (0-1) ; T O'Flanagan, M Keenan (0-3, 2f), C Flaherty (0-1) ; A McCarron, Rory Gallagher (0-1), D Keenan (1-1). Subs: C McElroy for O'Flanagan (21 mins), R Foy for A McCarron (ht), N Bowe for P Sherry (55 mins), P Cosgrove for R Jones (59 mins).

Ref: S Doyle (Wexford). Tweet

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