Fermanagh 1-11 Laois 3-12

 

With 66 minutes gone Fermanagh looked as if they were about to round off a disappointing league campaign with a confidence boosting win but a disastrous final period saw them fall to defeat to Laois at Brewster Park today.

Ryan McMenamin's side appeared to be in control as they led 1-11 to 0-09 with an extra man but the game turned on it's head in the closing stages as Laois hit an unanswered 3-03 to take the win and secure their Division Two status with the victory taking them out of  the bottom two as Cavan joined Fermanagh in dropping to Division Three.

There was little between the sides early on as they shared the opeing six points. 

Tomás Corrigan, Lorcan McStravick and Stephen McGullion registered scores for Fermanagh while Paul Kingston, Eoin Lowry and Gary Walsh fired over for the visitors.

However, the home side finished the half the stronger as Corrigan and goalkeeper Sean McNally converted frees to leave it 0-05 to 0-03 at the break.

A wonderful Darragh McGurn point pushed the gap out to three points on the resumption but with Walsh, Brian Daly, Evan O'Connell and Eoin Buggie replying for Laois it left the sides level at 0-07 apiece with 456 minutes gone.

Fermanagh though took a control of matters after this as Ryan Jones and Corrigan (2) rifled over points before Corrigan then found the net. Richard O'Callaghan flicked on a Shane McGullion ball from the right and after Ciaran Corrigan contested possession with the Louth netminder the ball broke to Tomás Corrigan who fired soccer style to the net to put six between the sides, 1-10 to 0-07.

Walsh and O'Connell did hit back with points for Laois but they then had Kieran Lillis red carded for a high challenge on Danny Teague and when Stephen McGullion fisted over a point the Ernemen looked to be in charge of the contest with 66 minutes played.

The away side were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after a Kane Connor foot block and Walsh slotted the spot kick to the net.

A Walsh free then saw the deficit reduced to the minimum before Laois swooped to take the lead. 

A poor McNally kick out was latched on to by O'Connell and he slipped the ball across the goal for Walsh to score from close range.

The momentum was now completely with the away team and having been given a sniff of saving their Division Two status they grabbed it with both hands.

Kingston bagged a third goal as the Fermanagh defence was sliced open and Walsh and Keogh wrapped things up with late points to leave seven in it at the final whistle.