FERMANAGH...0-13 LONGFORD...1-8: Needing a win to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation, determined Fermanagh got the better of fellow strugglers Longford in this basement battle at Pearse Park and it now goes right down to the wire with the counties deadlocked on four points apiece going into the final round of fixtures next weekend.
Fermanagh moved above Longford in the table on score difference, a three-point swing, but with both sides facing very tough games, away to Cork and Dublin respectively, bottom side Westmeath are still in with a shout of surviving.
The draw against Dublin at Enniskillen in the previous round had obviously given Fermanagh a lift and they were unquestionably the best side in a generally scrappy game watched by an attendance in the region of 2,500.
Things did not look good for the visitors when they were forced to field without regulars Hugh Brady and Ryan Keenan, injured, and James Sherry who was sent off in the win over Down in the Ulster under-21 championship the previous day.
They still proved too good for a disappointing Longford, despite kicking 13 wides compared to six for the home side who were extremely flattered to be leading by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Kieran Boyle missed a great goal chance for Fermanagh in the opening minute and while Mark Little and Stephen Maguire (two frees) did send over points, the place-kicking of Pádraic Davis kept Longford in contention in the first half.
Paul Barden was also on target from play just before the break but they only succeeded in adding a further 1-2 to their tally in the second half. The points were wonderful efforts from Liam Keenan and Davis while David Barden grabbed the goal in the 51st minute, after a fine fetch by big full forward Niall Sheridan created the simple chance that left Longford 1-8 to 0-10 ahead.
However, they failed to register another score whereas a more committed Fermanagh side finished with points from Stephen Maguire (two frees), and a late effort from substitute Seán Curry that sealed the vital victory and Longford's tale of woe was complete when midfielder Liam Keenan was sent off for a second yellow card offence in stoppage time.
Charlie Mulgrew's side shot eight points in the second half, four of these coming from the always dangerous full forward, Stephen Maguire, who ended up with 0-8 to his credit.
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Ledwith, C Conefrey, D Brady; E Ledwith, D Hannify, S Carroll; L Keenan (0-1), F Coyle; T Smullen, D Blessington, P Barden (0-1); D Barden (1-0), N Sheridan, P Davis (0-6, five frees). Subs: S Lynch for Carroll (43 mins); B Sheridan for Brady (46); M Kelly for Blessington (62); J Martin for P Barden (66).
FERMANAGH: R Gallagher; N Bogue, S Goan, P Sherry; R Johnston, M McGrath, D O'Reilly; L McBarron, S McDermott; E Maguire, C McElroy (0-1), K Boyle (0-1); C O'Reilly, S Maguire (0-8, seven frees), M Little (0-2). Subs: D McGrath for McElroy (61 mins); S Curry (0-1) for C O'Reilly (67).
Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).
