Fermanagh 1-13 Lancashire 1-08

Last week, Fermanagh hurlers hit 18 wides in their win over Warwickshire before winning well.

There was a slight improvement last Saturday as they hit 17 wides against a much more clinical Lancashire side who gave the Ernesiders quite an amount of trouble in the first half and led by 1-05 to 0-04 by the 30th minute thanks to a brilliant solo goal from Antrim star Aidan McKinley.

And the visitors were pretty much well worth their half-time lead of 1-05 to 0-05 following a half where wasteful Fermanagh hit nine wides with some of them coming from frees into a tricky breeze with John Duffy and Luca McCusker out of luck in front of the posts.

But the key score for the winners came in the 55th minute when a free from McCusker fell to Sean Corrigan, whose shot was blocked and the ball fell to Brian Teehan who rammed the sliotar to the net.

Teehan’s timely strike put Fermanagh into a 1-09 to 1-05 lead and gave them the necessary momentum to kick on for a choppy victory.

Wind-assisted Lancashire settled swiftly and corner forward Eoghan Clifford swung over a fine point after just one minute.

Fermanagh then took over, but inaccuracy kicked in and they hit four wides in as many minutes, two coming from placed balls.

It took them nine minutes to open their account through a fine effort from centre-forward Johnny Duane.

But it took a superb double save from keeper Mark Curry and Ronan McGurn to deny Holland a certain goal in the ninth minute.

The ball broke to Antrim ace, McKinley, who arced over a fine point to but Tom Keenan levelled matters for the Ernesiders and Luca McCusker put them in front from a free in the 15th minute.

But the wides were mounting, and the home side had a great chance of a goal but Danann McKeogh was smothered by Lancashire keeper James Doyle.

Two points from Lancashire wing forward David Lynch tied matters again until a moment of magic from McKinley rocked Fermanagh.

The full-forward, who was just back from injury went on a searing solo run and smashed the sliotar to the net for a great goal.

Finn Henry added a point before Teehan ended a Fermanagh scoring famine from a pointed free in the 32nd minute to leave a goal between the sides at the break with Lancashire leading by 1-05 to 0-05.

The wides continued for the home side who took charge of the game on the resumption as they took their wides tally up to 12 by the 42nd minute.

McCusker drew a big cheer when he hit a superb long-range point from 70 metres which seemed to galvanise the home side.

But it took a superb save from keeper Curry to deny Lancashire’s Peter Boylan who was bearing down on goal in the 46th minute.

From the puck out the excellent John Duffy was in space and calmly tapped over a point to level matters on a score of Lancashire 1-05 Fermanagh 0-08.

The home side were pretty outgunned physically but were gradually growing into the game with the in form Teehan striking a fine point on the run to put Fermanagh in front for the first time since the seventh minute.

It was then Teehan struck for the killer goal to put the home side on the road to victory.

Lancashire could only manage three points in the entire second half as Caolan Duffy, McCusker, substitutes Ben Corrigan and J.P McGarry finished the scoring for the home side with substitute Jason Patton on target for the visitors.

Fermanagh: Mark Curry; Sean McKendry, Rory Porteous, Ciaran Duffy; Ronan McGurn, Ryan Bogue, Odhran Johnston; Caolan Duffy (0-1) Brian Teehan (1-21f); Luca McCusker (0-32f) Thomas Duane (0-2) John Duffy (0-1); J P McGarry (0-1), Dannan McKeogh (0-1), Tom Keenan (0-1).

Subs: Danny Teague for Sean McKendry (14), Sean Corigan for Thomas Duane (50), Ben Corrigan (0-1) for Luca McCusker (70) Jimmy Tormey for John Duffy (74) Luca McCusker for Ben Corrigan (74).

Lancashire: James Doyle; Brian Slattery,, Caolan McCormick, Alex Gallagher; Eoghan Kelly, Cormac Kenny, Hugh Lane; Jamie McFayden, Christopher Convery; Finn Henry (0-1) Peter Boylan (0-1) David Lynch (0-2f); Eoghan Clifford (0-1), Aidan McKinley (1-1) Simon Holland.

Subs: Ethan Costello for Simon Holland (14), Billy Donnellan for Hugh Lane (52), David Furlong for Chistopher Convery (57), Colyn Power for Eoghan Clifford (60), Jason Patton (0-2) for David Lynch (67)

Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth)