Down too much for 14 men Fermanagh

Ulster GAA Football Championship Quarter-Final:
Fermanagh 1-8 Down 2-10

Down always looked to have too much for Fermanagh in their Ulster GAA Football Championship quarter-final clash in Enniskillen on Sunday, easing to a five point win.

James McCartan’s side benefited significantly from the ninth minute dismissal of Fermanagh’s Daryll Keenan, and bolstered by Donal O’Hare’s goal, led 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Fermanagh battled hard though, and they got back to within three points of the lead in the second half when Damien Kelly goaled 10 minutes after the restart.

However, Down hit points when it mattered and when Conor Laverty found the net with just over 15 minutes to go, it eased Down into a comfortable lead again which they never looked like relinquishing.

There were only two points scored in the first 17 minutes of the game, although probably the game’s most significant moment happened in an otherwise quiet opening quarter, when Fermanagh’s Keenan was sent off.

The forward was given a straight red following an off the ball incident, and Fermanagh struggled to cope with the numerical disadvantage thereafter. Down gradually began to control proceedings, and after O’Hare and Daniel Kille traded the first points of the game, the visitors struck a decisive goal on 20 minutes.

O’Hare got the major, which came hot on the back of an Ambrose Rodgers score, to put Down 1-2 to 0-1 ahead. Their tails were up, and they took advantage of this spell of dominance, hitting the next four points through Kevin McKernan, Aidan Carr, Conor McGinn and Brendan McArdle to go eight ahead.

Fermanagh were in danger of being left behind as Down continued to pour forward, but Peter Canavan’s side rallied towards the end of the half and hit the final two scores through Kelly and Kille to stay in touch, just.

Kelly then gave Fermanagh real hope when he finished to the net after 45 minutes, and for a while Down looked rattled.

However, points from Dan McCartan and Kevin Duffin settled them, and when Laverty goaled on 57 minutes, the lead was eight again.

To their credit, Fermanagh didn’t give up and Seamus Quigley, Paul Ward and Tomas Corrigan all added scores before full-time to get their tally up.

But Down’s goals had proved crucial, and while they will be a bit disappointed with how they eased up in the final 15 minutes of the game, in truth their work was done.