Fermanagh battle past Longford to secure league final spot

Fermanagh have qualified for the Allianz NHL Division Three final after this hard-earned win over a gritty 14-man Longford side in a game played in treacherous conditions in Brewster Park.

The visitors lost midfielder Keelan Cox to a straight red card in the 30th minute after an alleged strike on Ryan Bogue.

But a lighter and smaller home side struggled to make the extra man count in terrible conditions in a keenly contest second half where Longford actually led by 0-05 to 0-04 by the 45th minute thanks to the accuracy of free-taker Reuben Murray.

And it took two superb late points from veteran Danny Teague to set Joe Baldwin’s boys on the road victory where it is more than likely that they will be meeting this Longford side again as the Midlanders are fancied to beat Leitrim in the semi-final next weekend as Fermanagh head off on a training weekend.

The final of this competition, which Fermanagh won two years ago by beating Longford in the final, will be played in Croke Park whose wide open space will suit a small but very pacey Erne side.        

Longford, who were missing the gifted midfielder David Buckley settled swiftest in a remarkably low-scoring first half and Paddy Lynam opened the scoring with a sweetly struck free after two minutes.

Conditions were terrible with a part of the field near the dugouts a complete quagmire and the ball often sticking in the muck resulting in several rucks and mauls which made good hurling a virtual impossibility.

Rory Porteous powers his way out of defence for Fermanagh. (Image: Martin Brady)

Fermanagh midfielder Brian Teehan responded in splendid style with a well-struck long range point.

And that was the pattern for a hard-fought first half as the players struggled manfully to cope with the adverse conditions.

Luca McCusker, who was now operating on the 40 gave Fermanagh the lead in the ninth minute.

Longford looked dangerous on the break but hit three bad wides.

Fermanagh had a half chance of a goal in the 16th minute when McCusker broke through but his crisply hit shot from an acute angle was well saved by Longford keeper Pat Burke.

It took a superb save from Ryan Bogue at the other end to deny Longford’s Maitiu Donohoe a certain goal as he controlled the ball brilliantly.

Luca McCusker pointed a free just before Cox’s red card as a Murray free made it 0-04 to 0-02 at the break.

Fermanagh would have been expected to underline their extra man but the opposite happened as a physically stronger Longford side upped their game and won most of the rucks in the mire.

Three pointed frees from Murray put them into a 0-05 to 0-04 lead by the 47th minute but they also hit seven wides.

It was left to impressive Erne midfielder Teehan to level matters in the 49th minute.

Then a piece of magic between McCusker and the uber skilful Tom Keenan ended with John Duffy hitting a fine point to put Fermanagh back in front by 0-06 to 0-05.

But Longford were not going away and a Murray free and their first point from play from Cathal Mullane put them back in front by 0-07 to 0-06.

Fermanagh responded through a free which McCusker converted.

Danny Teague eyes up the sliotar for a strike with Dan Crossan closing to challenge. (Image: Martin Brady)

The visitors failed to score for the rest of the game as the eclectic Danny Teague went on a scintillating solo run and hit a wonderful point.

He followed this with a fine point to put the winners ahead by 0-09 to 0-07 on the home stretch.

Fermanagh were beginning to assert themselves but hit five wides in seven minutes and landed a total of 10 wides.

Teehan and Tommy Duane closed out the scoring for a narrow but deserved victory.

Fermanagh: C McKernan; O Johnston, R Porteous, C Duffy; D Teague (0-02), R Bogue, B Corrigan; C Duffy, B Teehan (0-03); J Duffy (0-01), L McCusker (0-04, 3f), T Duane (0-01); T Keenan, J Tormey, D McKeogh

Subs: R McGurn for Johnston (h-t), S Corrigan for Tormey (45). 

Longford: P Burke; D Caslin, E Allen, K Murray; K Cox, J Casey, E Tully; D Crossan, P Lynam (0-01,1f) R Murray (0-05, 5f), S Lancaster, M O’Donohoe; S Gregg, C Mullane (0-01), M Mulcahy.

Subs: D Caslin for Gregg (43), R Maher for Mullane (59).

Referee: Paddy Clarke (Cavan)