Conor McGurk Cup round one Cavan 0-11 Fermanagh 3-17
Conor McGurk Cup round one
Cavan 0-11 Fermanagh 3-17
Fermanagh’s senior hurlers were forced to play with 14 men for the last 15 minutes but still managed to win pulling up in their Conor McGurk Cup clash with hosts Cavan last night.
The Ernesiders laboured to nick a 1-8 to 0-10 interval lead but thereafter showed their opponents a clean pair of heels.
In a fast and furious affair played on an ice rink-like 3G pitch at Kingspan Breffni, the sides were level on five separate occasions in the first half.
Diarmaid Carney’s converted free just seconds after the opening whistle put the hosts ahead but Fermanagh hit back with interest thanks to Jimmy Tormey’s 10th-minute goal.
Cavan gradually found their feet and forged a 0-9 to 1-4 lead with 23 minutes on the clock following points from Kilkenny native Canice Maher and Meath-born attacker Thomas Leonard.
Fermanagh regained the initiative though and a brace of Daniel Teague points from play left Cavan trailing by 0-10 to 1-8 at the interval.
The chasing team were dealt another major blow in the 43rd minute when top scorer Teague nabbed Fermanagh’s second goal to leave his side 2-9 to 0-10 in front.
Moffett’s converted free (53) ended an 18 minute-long barren period for Cavan but Fermanagh never looked in danger of being reined in despite having John Paul McGarry dismissed in the 57th minute.
For good measure, Fermanagh netted for a third time in the 59th minute, with Luca McCusker’s impressive finish making it a 10-point game.
The Ernesiders added a further five unanswered points in the run-in to complete an efficient victory and they will now face Ulster University in the quarter-final on Saturday
Cavan D Carney 0-3f; J Smith, T Leonard & C Maher (2f) 0-2 each; Mark Moffett & C Sheanon 0-1 each
Fermanagh L McCusker 1-5 (0-3f); D Teague 1-4; C Duffy 0-4; S Corrigan 0-3 (0-1f); J Tormey 1-0; C Breslin 0-1
