Ulster SFC Quarter-final: Fermanagh 1-9, Antrim 0-9 Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew, starting off his third term, saw his team win their first Ulster championship match under his tenure at Enniskillen yesterday.
He was far from happy, however, with the team's performance and conceded that had Antrim taken their second-half chances Fermanagh would be still be waiting to win their first Ulster championship game under him.
There were a number of talking points afterwards, those Antrim wides in a 17-minute period in the second half, the sending-off of Antrim full forward Kevin McGourty in the 48th minute for a second yellow card and, most significantly, whether the game should have been played.
The rain fell continuously from the start of the minor game, leading eventually to the cancellation of the third match of the evening, the minor championship game between Cavan and Donegal.
Fermanagh midfielder Liam McBarron was among those who favoured a cancellation.
"It is a disgrace playing football in that there," he said. "How can you expect amateur footballers to train all year and play in those conditions?"
He was supported in that opinion by McGourty who felt the conditions had contributed to his second yellow card when he appeared to drag down Fermanagh full back Barry Owens. But like his manager he accepted Antrim's finishing was not what it should have been.
Fermanagh got off to a tonic start when Ciarán O'Reilly was dragged down by the Antrim goalkeeper as he was about to pull the trigger, and he smacked home the penalty kick.
Fermanagh's Mark Little extended the lead in the eighth minute but from then until half-time Antrim dominated. Corner forward Michael Magill, with four points, two from frees, was a constant threat.
Fermanagh kept their noses in front, just about, and had to be helped by defender Shane Goan in amassing scores.
Scoring was subdued in the second half by comparison. Antrim's Aidan Gallagher pointed to leave his team a point behind (1-5 to 0-7). Despite all their pressure, however, Antrim failed to put away their chances, seven in all, and Gallagher blasted wide when presented with a goal-scoring chance.
Having withstood the storm, Fermanagh came good with points from former captain Shane McDermott and thereafter from man-of-the-match Ciarán O'Reilly.
In between, Antrim's substitute goalkeeper, John Finnucane, saved at close range from Mark Murphy.
FERMANAGH: C Breen; P Sherry, B Owens, S Goan (0-1); R Johnston, H Brady, S McDermott (0-1); L McBarron, M Murphy; M Little (0-3), J Sherry, T Brewster; E Maguire, S Doherty, C O'Reilly (1-4, 2 frees, 1 pen). Subs: R Keenan for J Sherry (40 mins), M McGrath for McDermott (55 mins), N Bogue for P Sherry (69 mins), J McGurn for Little (73 mins).
ANTRIM: P Murray; A McClean, P Doherty, D Gault; A Scullion, A Convery, S Kelly; J Quinn, M McCann (0-1, free); C Close, B Herron, A Gallagher (0-1); K Niblock (0-1), K McGourty, M Magill (0-4, 2 frees). Subs: T O'Neill for Close, C Brady for Gault (both half-time), O Doherty for Herron (40 mins), P Cunningham (0-2) for Niblock (53 mins), J Finnucane for Murray (47 mins).
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
