City slickers far too good

Editorial Department • Published 11 Mar 2010 10:09 0 Comments

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Antrim's Brendan Herron in action with Fermanagh's Ciaran Flaherty on Saturday night.

Ryan Carson, whose controversial dismissal was a key turning point.

Antrim 0-16; Fermanagh 0-08;

Fermanagh were easily brushed aside by undefeated Antrim at Casement on Saturday night leaving Malachy O'Rourke's depleted side sitting on only two points after the opening three games in Division Three.

Having matched Liam Bradley's side reasonably well for the first 25 minutes the sides were locked together at 0-04 apiece but in the final ten minutes of the half the Fermanagh challenge began to fade.

Antrim banged over four points without reply and when Ryan Carson was given a straight red card at the end of the first half Fermanagh's chances of gaining anything out of the game looked very slim.

Tommy McElroy, who was far and away Fermanagh's best player on the night, did drive over two good points as O'Rourke's side clawed their way back to within three points at one stage in the second half but the Saffrons went on to dominate the last 25 minutes of the contest, scoring seven points to Fermanagh's two during that spell, as they ran out 0-16 to 0-08 winners.

Antrim's threat in attack was to be the main difference between the sides with the home side looking purposeful and dangerous every time they broke forward. Patrick Cunningham and Michael Magill in particular gave Fermanagh a tough time with Magill's strength and Cunningham's accuracy crucial to Antrim.

Fermanagh did manage to win a fair share of ball in the middle third but in comparison to Antrim the Fermanagh attack was blunt throughout, none of the starting forwards registering from play, although the quality of ball going into the forward line would not have pleased the manager.

And with Louth coming to Brewster Park this Sunday the injury problems are mounting for O'Rourke. Chris Breen missed out on Saturday night with an ankle injury while Daryl Keenan sustained a hand injury during the game. Added to that Carson will now have a ban to serve following his red card.

On Saturday night the Fermanagh manager handed out first league starting slots to goalkeeper Stephen Jackson, defender Daniel Ward, Kevin Cosgrove at midfield and James Connolly in attack and it was the away side who were first off the mark after Ryan Carson tapped over a close in free following a foul on Daryl Keenan.

The opening period was littered with errors and mis-placed passes from both sides although Antrim hit back with a point from a free from Cunningham to level matters.

Carson edged Fermanagh back in front with another free but Antrim replied to this with three unanswered points.

Magill, who showed very well at full forward for Antrim, lofted over after a good move and Kieran Close then fired over after a flowing attack.

A long range effort from Gerard O'Boyle then put the home side into a 0-04 to 0-02 lead.

Fermanagh fought back to bring the sides level for a third time as Ryan Jones and Carson converted frees but Antrim were to take control of the contest as half time approached as the lively Cunningham accounted for four successive points in a six minute spell to put them into a 0-08 to 0-04 advantage.

And Fermanagh were to suffer a big blow at the end of the half as Carson was given his marching orders by over fussy referee Con Reynolds, who sent him off for an elbow, a decision that looked harsh on the Newtownbutler man.

The conclusion of the first half left Fermanagh facing an uphill battle after the interval and the gap increased to five points as Magill slotted over his second of the encounter.

Fermanagh did show a bit of battle after this as Tommy McElroy drilled over two points to reduce the margin back to three and give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

The half back's first score came from him driving through a couple of tackles before landing a terrific point while he then linked up with Ryan Jones to make it 0-09 to 0-06.

However, Antrim replied instantly to this with corner back Kevin O'Boyle scurrying forward to kick a point, and from this Antrim were never in danger as they pulled clear.

Cunningham, James Loughrey and Tomas McCann rattled over points, Loughrey's the pick of the bunch, to move Antrim into a 0-13 to 0-06 lead with ten minutes left to play.

Mattie Keenan and substitute Ciaran McElroy did tag on points for Fermanagh but these were purely consolation scores and Antrim were to finish with a flourish as Conor Murray, Tomas McCann and Cunningham knocked over points to give them a double scores victory.

Antrim

S. McGreevy; D. McCann, A. Douglas, K. O'Boyle (0-01); J. Loughrey (0-01), J. Crozier, D. O'Hagan; M. McCann, B. Herron; K. Close (0-01), T. McCann (0-02), T. Scullion; P. Cunningham (0-07, 5f), M. Magill (0-02), G. O'Boyle (0-01).

Subs - C. Murray (0-01) for Douglas, K. Brady for G. O'Boyle, M. Pollock for Close, P. Carey for Crozier.

Fermanagh

S. Jackson; N. Bogue, N. McGovern, S. Goan; D. Ward, B. Mulrone, T. McElroy (0-02); J. Sherry, K. Cosgrove; C. Flaherty, M. Keenan (0-01, 1f), R. Jones (0-01, 1f); J. Connolly, R. Carson (0-03, 3f), D. Keenan.

Subs - S. Lyons for McGovern, R. Keenan for D. Keenan, P. Ward for Connolly, C. McElroy (0-01)for Sherry.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Mar 10

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