SF Qualifier: Ernemen wallop Westmeath

July 25, 2015

Westmeath's Kevin Maguire and Tomas Corrigan of Fermanagh
©INPHO

Fermanagh are through to the All-Ireland series after negotiating a poor Westmeath challenge - 1-13 to 0-7 at Breffni Park.

The winners - for whom Man of the Match Tomas Corrigan registered 1-7 - outscored their hapless opponents by 1-10 to 0-1 between the 33rd and 64th minutes as they effortlessly progressed to the last eight. The losers managed just two second-half points, having turned around on level terms.

Four John Connellan scores - two from frees and two from play - had Westmeath ahead by 0-5 to 0-2 with three minutes left in the first half but Corrigan slotted three late scores to ensure that the teams were level when the short whistle sounded.

Pete McGrath's men also registered ten wides during those opening 35 minutes and had half-back stalwarts Marty O'Brien and Ryan McCluskey contentiously black-carded. They also lost captain Eoin Donnelly to injury in the second half.

Both sides lined out as selected, which meant no place in the Westmeath starting XV for captain Ger Egan.

Shane Dempsey and Sean Quigley swapped the first two scores inside three minutes before Connellan converted a soft Westmeath free to re-establish their lead in the sixth minute.

Declan McCusker conjured a lovely point to tie the scores up again three minutes later and both sides missed a number of presentable scoring opportunities before Connellan chipped over his second free at the midway stage in the first half, 0-3 to 0-2.

The northerners had experienced wing back O'Brien harshly black-carded for an innocuous foul which culminated in that third Westmeath score. A brace of Connellan points from play - including a left-footed stunner from the right - increased the gap to three with 24 minutes played.

Things were looking bleak for Fermanagh when they lost McCluskey but Corrigan slotted two beauties from play and an injury-time free following a foul on his brother Ruairi to leave it all to play for upon the resumption.

The Lake County introduced Egan at half time in place of the man who had struck four-fifths of their first-half scores (Donnellan had picked up a hamstring injury). Corrigan's fourth successive point had Fermanagh ahead for the first time and Quigley restored that lead with a sumptuous point off the outside of his boot after Denis Glennon elected to take his point with the goal gaping.

The border county wanted a penalty when Ruairi Corrigan went to ground under pressure but there was nought doing; they still moved three clear by the 51st minute thanks to an inspirational Niall Cassidy strike and a Tomas Corrigan free.

Declan McCusker pointed again to make it 0-10 to 0-6 with less than a quarter of the match left and Corrigan (free) stretched the gap further. Corrigan then added another converted free seven minutes from the end and chipped the ball majestically over substitute goalkeeper Gary Connaughton to the net in the 64th minute to leave nine between them.

Ray Connellan (free) grabbed a consolation point before substitute Damien Kelly rounded off the scoring on a famous day for Fermanagh.

Fermanagh - T Treacy; M Jones, T Daly, N Cassidy (0-1); B Mulrone, R McCluskey, J McMahon; E Donnelly, R O'Callaghan; M O'Brien, R Jones, D McCusker (0-2); P McCusker, S Quigley (0-2, 1f), T Corrigan (1-7, 0-5f). Subs: D Kelly (0-1) for M O'Brien (BC), R Corrigan for R McCluskey (BC), C Jones for E Donnelly, C Cullen for N Cassidy.

Westmeath - D Quinn; K Maguire, K Gavin, F Boyle; J Gilligan, P Holloway, K Daly; D Corroon, R Connellan (0-1f); J Dolan, P Sharry, K Martin; J Connellan (0-4, 2f), D Glennon (0-1), S Dempsey (0-1). Subs: G Egan for J Connellan, D Lynch for K Maguire, D Daly for S Dempsey, G Connaughton for D Quinn, L Smyth for D Glennon, P Greville for P Holloway.

Referee - P Hughes.


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