Fermanagh turn screw in second half to dump Wexford out

Fermanagh 0-19 Wexford 1-11

Fermanagh manager Pete McGrath has called for a repeat of the second-half performance as his side condemned Wexford to an eventual five-point defeat at Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday afternoon.

After a sloppy first half at the end of which they led by a single point having been wind assisted, Fermanagh delivered a splendid closing 25 minutes to the game, with their inside forwards, Tomás Corrigan and Seán Quigley, dismantling the home full-back line while centre-forward Ryan Jones, on his switch to midfield following the 45 minute black carding of Richard O’Callaghan, took command in midfield.

As for McGrath he made it clear: “We need improvement. Our first-half display was indifferent to say the least but I think once we upped the tempo of the game in the closing 25 minutes we dominated.

“At half-time we knew we were in a battle and this became more evident when we fell a point in arrears early in the second half having led by a point at half-time.

“We didn’t take our chances in the first half, conceded a goal, and made life difficult for ourselves. Our display in the closing 25 minutes was out best of the season.”

Wexford manager David Power said: “We certainly improved on our league form but it was still not good enough.

‘Lack of experience’

“We gave ourselves every chance, only a point behind at the break, turning over with the wind, going a point ahead early in the second half, but we failed to push on. We are a young side and our lack of experience was quite evident there today.”

Fermanagh were 0-4 to 0-1 up inside the opening eight minutes. It was not until the 20th minute that Wexford had their opening score from play through John Tubritt.

Four minutes later the game was turned on its head. Simon Donohoe played a great ball through to Tubritt on the wing, who cut inside before placing a return pass to Donohoe who shot low into the net to give his side a 1-5 to 0-6 lead.

The sides continued to trade points but it was an Eoin Donnolly point in additional time that helped Fermanagh to a 0-10 to 1-6 interval lead.

The Ulster side went on to a 0-17 to 1-9 lead with eight minutes remaining.

Although Wexford managed to reduce the deficit with points from Tubritt and sub Shane Roche it was Fermanagh who re-established control finishing with points from Corrigan and Richard Breen, to advance into the next-round draw.

FERMANAGH: C Snow; M Jones, C Cullen, M O'Brien; D McCusker, J McMahon, A Breen (0-2); E Donnelly (0-2), R O'Callaghan; B Mulrone (0-1), R Jones, P McCusker; R Corrigan (0-1), S Quigley (0-4, two frees), T Corrigan (0-9, five frees).

Subs: C McManus for Jones (inj, half-time), C Flaherty for O'Callaghan (black card, 45 mins), J Duffy for McCusker (58 mins), D Kelly for D McCusker (72 mins).

WEXFORD: A Masterson; J Rossiter, N Rossiter, J Wadding; B Malone, S Byrne, S Donohoe (1-0); C Kehoe, D Waters; K O'Grady (0-1), A Flynn, E Nolan; D Shanley (0-4, frees), B Brosnan (0-2), J Tubritt (0-3).

Subs: PJ Banville for Byrne (46 mins), K Butler for Flynn (50 mins), S Roche (0-1) for Shanley (58 mins), R Tierney for O'Grady (62 mins), P Murphy for Masterson (inj, 62 mins).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).