Gaelic Games

Fermanagh surprise Meath to grind out win in Enniskillen

Meath were hit by a red card to Andrew Tormey and never quite recovered

Fermanagh’s Sean Quigley tackles Conor McGill of Meath during the sides’ Allianz League Division Two clash. Photo: John McVitty/Inpho
Fermanagh’s Sean Quigley tackles Conor McGill of Meath during the sides’ Allianz League Division Two clash. Photo: John McVitty/Inpho
Sun Feb 07 2016 - 19:00

Fermanagh 0-10 Meath 0-06

Meath lost a man and gave up the fight, with Fermanagh adapting best to dreadful playing conditions to extend their unbeaten record in Brewster Park.

Royals manager Mick O’Dowd was disappointed with the “low energy” displayed by his team as an attacking force after they managed a paltry six points, including only one from play.

They also failed to score for 25 minutes either side of half time following the sending-off of Andrew Tormey. The midfielder picked up a black card in the 23rd minute for blocking a Fermanagh defender, and having been already booked it meant Meath were down to 14 men.

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Both sides struggled to convert frees in the damp, heavy conditions until Tomas Corrigan, who took over the free-taking duties from the unusually wayward Sean Quigley, scored 0-4 in the last 15 minutes to help Fermanagh to their first win in Division Two.

Although Pete McGrath’s side set up very defensively and showed little desire to push forward with the extra man, they were well organised and deserved to protect their unbeaten home record which stretches back to June 2014.

The sides were level three times in the opening 20 minutes, Eoin Donnelly’s booming 55m metre point after 10 seconds setting the tone for a fully committed Fermanagh display.

Cillian O’Sullivan’s sideline conversion in the 21st minute put Meath 0-3 to 0-2 ahead but that was their last score for some time.

Sean Quigley hit three unanswered points before the interval, mixing the good with the bad. He scored a tricky free followed by a ‘45’ before missing two easier kicks, but still had Fermanagh 0-05 to 0-03 ahead at the break.

Meath scored three points in a row to go 0-6 to 0-5 ahead after 50 minutes, Donal Lenihan ending their long scoring drought with a left-footed point.

Sean Tobin converted a ‘45’ and then hit a free, which proved to be their last score.

Fermanagh carried the ball well into the wind and drew the fouls, which Corrigan duly converted.

Fermanagh: C Snow; M Jones, C Cullen, N Cassidy; P Rehill, J McMahon, A Breen (0-1); E Donnelly (0-1), D Kelly; B Mulrone (0-1), C Flaherty, R Hanna; R Corrigan, S Quigley (0-3, 1f, 1 '45'), T Corrigan (0-4, 4f). Subs: P McGovern for Rehill (43), R Jones for Hanna (43). K Connor for Kelly (58), E McHugh for Breen (70).

Meath: P O'Rourke; D Keogan, C McGill, M Burke; B Power, P Harnan, C Finn; H Rooney, A Tormey; G Reilly, C O'Sullivan (0-1), J McEntee; S Tobin (0-3, 2f, 1 '45'), M Newman (0-1, f), D Lenihan (0-1). Subs: E Wallace for Lenihan (45), D Smyth for McEntee (57), A Douglas for Finn (63), B O'Brien for Tobin (68), R O Coilleann for Reilly (69).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).