Emmet now targets staying at Intermediate level after Down loss

Goals proved decisive as Fermanagh exited the Ulster Ladies Intermediate Championship at the hands of Down in Healy Park on Saturday.
There was little between the sides in the first half with only a point dividing the sides after 25 minutes but the Mourne side bagged two goals late in the half to give them a seven point advantage at the break.
And although Fermanagh continued to battle hard in the second half, Down hit another three goals to ensure that they progressed through to a final meeting with Tyrone which will take place this Sunday at 1.45pm in Brewster Park.
“I thought we were as good as them so it was hard to take,” said Fermanagh manager Emmet Curry. 
“We were right in the game in the first half and there was nothing in it but they then got two goals late in the half and that was a blow to us.
“We were unlucky that we did not get more goals ourselves as both Eimear Smyth and Blaithin Bogue were pulled back for frees when they were in on goal and we hit the bar and the post.
“I’m not disappointed, but in the end the goals won the match,” said Curry.
And he states that the aim now for Fermanagh will be to try and remain at Intermediate level with their next game coming up against Offaly on July 14.
“We worked hard last year to get out of Junior so we want to stay in Intermediate and not go back down. There was only six of the team who have ever played Intermediate football before, for the majority of them it was their first time and they will learn from it so we will hopefully be able to regroup in the All Ireland series and win a couple of games to stay up at that level,” he said.
It was Down who got off to the quicker start to the contest as they landed the opening two points through Laoise Duffy and Jess Foy.
Fermanagh’s first score of the game arrived from sharpshooter Eimear Smyth but Down went on to add to their advantage as Kate McKay and Grainne McClean slotted over points to make it 0-04 to 0-01.
Fermanagh though began to settle to the task and Danielle McManus and Roisin O’Reilly kicked points to make it 0-05 to 0-04 five minutes before the interval.
It was Down though who finished the half with a flourish as first Duffy and the McKay bagged goals to leave them 2-06 to 0-05 ahead at the break.
Fermanagh, who lost full forward Joanne Doonan before half time, were quickly out of the blocks in the second half as Bogue rattled over two points in a row but they then rocked by a third Down goal as the Mourne side moved into a 3-06 to 0-07 lead.
Bogue and Smyth did register points for Fermanagh but Down were again able to respond with another goal, Foy this time finding the net to help push them into a 4-10 to 0-10 lead.
Fermanagh were twice denied by the woodwork as they looked to find a way back into the game but at the other end Down again hit the net through Sorcha McCartan.
Smyth did net a late goal for Fermanagh put at that stage the result was already decided as Down moved into the Ulster final while Fermanagh will look towards a clash with the Faithful Couty next month.