​Fermanagh 3-16 Wicklow 0-09

Three second half goals helped Fermanagh to convincing opening day win in their Tailteann Cup campaign as they had 16 points to spare over Wicklow in Brewster Park.

Under the Fermanagh sun the Ernesiders were dominant throughout and should have been further ahead in the first half.

However, wasteful shooting kept Wicklow in touching distance with only four points separating the sides at the break.

Fermanagh’s wastefulness in front of goal was the main narrative of the first half.

They hit seven wides, but passed up several more opportunities that could have put the game to bed early on.

Ultan Kelm had a first sight of goal after beating several defenders but he pulled his shot wide.

Conor McShea had three goal chances but could not find the net on each occasion.

Kelm did open the scoring with a good point before Oisin McGraynor replied with a free.

Che Cullen then took the ball on the run and hit the score of the day off the outside of his boot after 11 minutes.

Points from Fionan O’Brien and Sean Cassidy followed before McGraynor scored again and Eoin Darcy pointed a free to leave it 0-04 to 0-03 with 10 minutes to play.

But points from O’Brien, Callum Jones, Johnny Cassidy and Joe McDade helped improve Fermanagh's accuracy would improve over the closing stages.

Wicklow hit the game's final score as a long ball in from Darcy evaded everyone and bounced over the bar as it finished 0-08 to 0-04.

Fermanagh the second half well with McDade pointing after 50 seconds of the restart and this was followed by a Garvan Jones free.

A Darcy free was Wicklow’s response but Fermanagh finally found the net on 41 minutes.

Callum Jones was put in on goal and he passed across for Sean Cassidy to palm to the net to make it 1-10 to 0-05.

McShea was next on the scoresheet for Fermanagh before McGraynor converted another free.

A fine Kelm ’45 was answered by a good score from Padraig O’Toole before Johnny Cassidy hit his second of the day.

The defender showed a forward’s instinct to jink past several defenders and pop it off his left and this was followed by a Garvan Jones score.

With 15 minutes to play Fermanagh introduced Conor Love and his first involvement saw him being played in by Callum Jones.

He bore down on goal before firing to the roof of the net.

Darcy palmed over for Wicklow after a free dropped short in response but again Love was in the right place and he drilled a second goal into the net to put the contest well beyond Wicklow’s reach.

In the closing stages Fermanagh had points from Josh Largo-Elis and Diarmuid King either side of a McGraynor free as they strolled to a comfortable opening-day victory which sets them up nicely for the challenge of Carlow next weekend.

Fermanagh: S McNally; L Cullen, C Cullen (0-01), J Cassidy(0-02); D McCusker, C Jones (0-01), J Largo-Elis (0-01); B Horan, J McDade (0-02); C McGee, C McShea (0-01), F O'Brien (0-02), U Kelm (0-02, 45, G Jones (0-02,1f), S Cassidy (1-01).

Subs: S McGullion for McGee (25), C Love (2-00) for S Cassidy (55), D King (0-01) for C Jones (59), J McMahon for McCusker (61), R McCaffrey for J Cassidy (65).

Wicklow: S Doyle; T Moran, M S, M Kenny; M Nolan, C Baker, G Fogarty; D Healy, C Maguire; D Fee, O McGraynor (0-04,3f), J Kirwan; J Carlin, G Murphy, J Paul Nolan.

Sub: J Prendergast for Kirwan (10), E Darcy (0-04, 2f)  for Baker (18), P O’Toole (0-01) for Murphy, E Murtagh for Fee (both 45), C Fee Kenny (50).