Fermanagh 2-10 Longford 1-10: WITH THEIR previous two fixtures postponed by weather, Fermanagh finally got their campaign up and running by getting the better of Longford at Pearse Park.
Fermanagh's cause was helped with the dismissal of Longford's Shane Mulligan and Diarmuid Masterson in a scrappy game.
Fermanagh got off to a flying start with a goal from Ciarán McElroy after just 20 seconds and led 1-6 to 0-2 by the 20th minute.
Francis McGee (free) and Brian Kavanagh replied for Longford, who were poor in the first half but were thrown a lifeline when Paul Barden scored a goal from a penalty in stoppage time after Declan Farrell was fouled in the square.
They trailed only by 1-6 to 1-3 at the break but moments after the Barden penalty, Mulligan was sent off for a second yellow card.
That left Luke Dempsey's side facing an uphill battle and they suffered further blows when Matthew Keenan goaled for Fermanagh in the 48th minute and full-back Masterson saw red for lashing out at an opponent in the 53rd minute.
The home side reduced the gap to a point but Fermanagh clinched a crucial win, the dismissal of Matthew Keenan for a second yellow card in stoppage time happening too late to affect the result.
FERMANAGH: R Gallagher; S Goan, P Mohan, N Bogue; D Kelly (0-1), S Lyons, R Johnston; M McGrath (0-2), M Murphy (0-1); C McElroy (1-0), M Keenan (1-1), M Little (0-2, frees); P Cadden (0-2, frees), L McBarron, E Maguire (0-1). Subs: R Keenan for C McElroy (44 mins).
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly; S Mulligan, A O'Connor, N Farrell (0-3, frees); L Keenan, E Farrell; D Barden (0-2), D Farrell, P Dowd; B Kavanagh (0-2), P Barden (1-0, penalty), F McGee (0-3, frees). Subs: K Mulligan for E Farrell (18 mins); P Berry for P Dowd (57 mins); P McDonnell for K Mulligan (57 mins); S McCormack for D Farrell (68 mins).
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).
