Published: Thursday, 25th February, 2010 10:04am

Unbeaten ladies eyeing a last four spot

Wicklow 0-09; Fermanagh 2-09;

Fermanagh landed their second consecutive league win on Sunday afternoon down in Hollywood, Co Wicklow. Before the game Fermanagh knew very little about their opponents except that the previous week they had defeated Westmeath. The Erne ladies set off on their journey early on Sunday morning, amid a blanket of snow but they were relieved to see conditions were better in Hollywood.

David Mee took a depleted squad, with only 20 girls making the long journey. Illness ruled out Aisling Moane and work commitments meant Fermanagh were without Nuala Curran and Catherine Murphy. Despite the absentees though Fermanagh clinched another victory and Mee feels it would be difficult for him to change his winning formula for the next day.

"The girls that travelled and are turning out week after week are putting in their shifts. They are lining out and winning the matches and it's hard for any manager to change a winning team," admits Mee.

Fermanagh should have put this game out of sight by half time after they dominated the majority of the first half. However, some wayward shooting by Mee's troops kept the Wicklow ladies in contention.

Within two minutes of the throw-in Marcella Connolly had her attempt on goal saved by Wicklow net minder, Emer Miley. A minute later though Sharon Little got Fermanagh off the mark, with a pointed free. Connolly did get on the score sheet in the sixth minute after she tore threw the Wicklow rearguard for a well taken point.

With Fermanagh creating ample opportunities in front of goal, they were left feeling frustrated as they kicked wide after wide. With ten minutes on the clock though, Sharon Little linked up well with Shauna Hamilton and Caroline Little before finishing to the back of the Wicklow net, to give Fermanagh a 1-02 to no score advantage.

The signs were looking ominous for the home side but with 12 minutes played they registered two consecutive points. The first from the boot of Niamh Carroll before full forward Aisling O'Hannaidh hit the target. What followed were some dubious refereeing decisions. Marcella Connolly appeared to have been fouled as she bore down on goal, however Dublin official, Derek McKittrick saw things differently and awarded a free out to Wicklow.

This was not to be the only questionable decision on the day and Mee found it hard to fathom some of the calls.

"We were dumbfounded to be honest, I think it confused both sides. For 15 minutes in the first half we didn't get a free awarded to us, every time we got within 30 metres of their goal the whistle went for a free out. I just couldn't understand it," said a frustrated Mee.

As Fermanagh entered the last ten minutes of the first half Caroline Little lofted over a superb long range free kick. Wicklow responded with their third and final point of the first half from full forward Aisling O'Hannaidh.

Fermanagh finished the half strongly, bagging 1-04 for their efforts. Kinawley's Danielle Maguire, who had replaced Emma O'Keefe after 20 minutes, slotted home with Fermanagh's second goal of the afternoon to leave the score 2-03 to 0-03. Two points apiece from sisters Caroline and Sharon Little helped stretch the Erne side's lead at the half way mark to 2-07 to 0-03.

In the second half it was a much improved Wicklow team that took to the field. They played with a higher intensity and hunger than what Fermanagh had been witness to in the first half. Four unanswered points from the home side put the pressure back on Fermanagh and 17 minutes elapsed in the second half before Fermanagh raised the white flag. Sharon Little was on target once more to leave the score line 2-08 to 0-07.

Wicklow continued to apply the pressure, Caoilfhionn Deeney and Niamh Carroll reaping the rewards with two more points but this was to be Wicklow's last score of the game. Fermanagh's substitute Naoimhin Daly had a clear run at goal shortly afterwards and could have killed this game off had she not been taken down by a Wicklow defender. The referee deemed the clash to be Daly's fault and gave a free out, a decision that was met once more with disbelief on the Fermanagh bench.

Fermanagh's Mary Cunningham had the final say of the match with a point from play, in the final minute, sealing another precious three points for a delighted David Mee and his team.

"We're always happy with the win. We knew it was going to be tough, they're a very big, physical team and they didn't lie down that's for sure," says Mee.

With three of their seven games played in the league and six points secured Mee is realistic in his ambitions.

"I think a semi-final place is a realistic goal and after that we'll see what happens," states the Monaghan man.

Fermanagh will be hoping that they can get similar performances from Orla Reihill, Tara Hughes, Patricia Melanophy and Mary Cunningham to name but a few if they are to defeat Westmeath on March 7.