Fermanagh 1-9 Westmeath 0-12: Underdogs Fermanagh picked up their first league point at Brewster Park in an entertaining encounter that had its moments of drama.
Westmeath had raced into a 0-11 to 0-6 lead 12 minutes into the second half, full forward Des Dolan contributing four points in this period. Fermanagh looked dead and gone but back they came to put scores on the board and in the 22nd minute they got the goal that gave them the lead for only the second time in the match.
Stephen Maguire was on hand to blast the ball to the net after excellent work by newcomer Mark Little. Fermanagh held that lead until three minutes from the end of normal time when Dolan won a free which Fergal Wilson converted.
Fermanagh were not done, however. After Dolan had sent a 45 wide, they mounted their last attack of the match and once more Maguire was in the thick of the action. He appeared to win the ball fairly, but referee Michael Ryan thought otherwise and denied the league's top scorer what would have been an easy point, had play continued.
Fermanagh manager Charlie Mulgrew regretted the two points lost but was encouraged by the first league point won. "When Westmeath went five points up, we were in big trouble; the pattern of the game seemed to switch and our boys kept at it and fought back. We could have won and probably should have won," he said.
While Westmeath manager Páidí Ó Sé acknowledged Fermanagh had failed to take scoreable frees in both halves, he was more concerned about his team's "in and out" football.
"That's the type of football we have been playing since the start of the league. Any time we went three or four points up we conceded as many scores and that's very worrying. There is no consistency and that's a major concern," he said.
FERMANAGH: R Gallagher; P Sherry, H Brady, N Bogue; R Johnston, D Kelly, D O'Reilly; S McDermott (0-1), J Sherry (0-1); M McGrath, L McBarron (0-1), M Little; R Keenan (0-1), S Maguire (1-4), C O'Reilly. Subs: K Donnelly (0-1) for C O'Reilly (inj, 19mins), E Maguire for Keenan, S Goan for D O'Reilly (both 52 mins).
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D Mitchell, F Murray; B Morley, J Keane, D Heavin; S Colleary, D O'Shaughnessy; F Wilson (0-2), T Stuart-Trainor (0-1), J Fallon (0-1); D Glennon, D Dolan (0-6), A Mangan (0-1). Subs: M Ennis (0-1) for Fallon (28 mins); A Canning for Murray (24 mins); D Kilmartin for Mitchell (half-time); J Conroy for Glennon (56 mins); D Gavin for Colleary (58 mins).
Referee: M Ryan (Limerick)
