Down's John McGeough celebrates at Brewster Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ulster SFC Quarter-Final
Down 2-19 (2-1-17) Fermanagh 0-23 (0-2-21)
By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park
Down produced a stunning fightback, coming from seven points down in the closing eight minutes to defeat Fermanagh at Brewster Park and book their place in the Ulster SFC semi-finals.
A thrilling encounter saw Down lead by three at the break before adding the first point of the second half, but Fermanagh stamped their authority on proceedings after this as the impressive Conor Love landed five points from play to put them into a 0-22 to 0-15 advantage by the 63rd minute.
However, Daniel Guinness rattled over a two-pointer and he followed up with a goal in the 65th minute to see the momentum swing Down’s way. And after two Pat Havern frees levelled the contest, Down swooped for the decisive score as Ryan McvEvoy slotted to the corner of the net to seal the victory.
Fermanagh started the game on the front foot as Darragh McGurn knocked over the opening score before goalkeeper Sean McNally drilled over a ’45 after Down custodian Ronan Burns had denied Joe McDade.
This was one of three goal chances the home side created in the first half, but they found Burns in fine form with the Down keeper pulling off saves from Conor Love and Ryan Lyons.
Down registered their opening point through midfielder Odhran Murdock with Havern knocking over a free to make it 0-2 apiece.
The sides traded scores over the next period with Eugene Branagan and Danny Magill on target for the Mournemen and Darragh McGurn, Garvan Jones and another McNally ’45 keeping the scoreboard ticking over for Fermanagh to leave it 0-5 to 0-5.
Down began to take a foothold in the game after this, accounting for the next five points. Daniel McGuinness saw his thumping effort clip the crossbar on the way over while Murdock, Celium Doherty and Magill also tagged on points.
Indeed, it could have been worse for the home side as James Guinness saw his goal bound attempt pushed on to the post by McNally while Che Cullen produced a wonderful block from the follow-up to deny Murdock. Burns did fire over the resultant 45 for Down as they looked to take control.
A black card though for Down’s Pierce Laverty for a trip on Shane McGullion saw Fermanagh regain a foothold in the contest and with Fionan O’Brien, Jones and Largo Elis among the points they cut the deficit to three by the interval, 0-8 to 0-11.
Daniel Guinness pushed the gap back out to four on the resumption, but it was Fermanagh who went on to boss the next 25 minutes.
McNally slotted over his third 45 after Burns again saved from Joe McDade before Jones, Ryan Lyons and Love notched points to level it at 0-12 each.
Havern did convert a free to nudge Down back in front, but Fermanagh were in the ascendancy at this stage, and they hit eight points on the bounce to take a grip on the contest.
Love was a real thorn in the side for Down during this spell as he banged over a further four points while Lee Cullen nailed a fine two-point effort and Jones and Johnny Cassidy also tagged on points to make it 0-20 to 0-13.
Shay Millar and McEvoy did add points for Down, but they were answered by points from Ronan McCaffrey and Declan McCusker to leave the Ernemen in the driving seat moving into the closing moments.
The excellent Daniel Guinnness, though, breathed life into the Down challenge as he banged over a two-pointer and two minutes later he slalomed through the Fermanagh defence before planting a shot to the net to leave two in it with five to play.
It was all Down now and two quickfire Havern points tied up the contest with two minutes to go. And with the game in the final minute the Mournemen swept forward and quick hands saw the ball transferred to McEvoy who fired to the net, much to the glee of the travelling support.
Fermanagh had one last chance to try and work a goal, but Cassidy’s lobbed ball dropped over the bar as Down claimed a two-point win.
Scorers for Down: D Guinness 1-4 (1 2p), R McEvoy 1-1, P Havern 0-4 (3f), D Magill 0-2, O Murdock 0-2, E Branagan 0-2, J McGeough 0-1, C Doherty 0-1, R Burns 0-1 (45), S Millar 0-1.
Scorers for Fermanagh: C Love 0-5, G Jones 0-4 (1f), S McNally 0-3 (3’45), L Cullen 0-2 (2p), J Cassidy 0-2, D McGurn 0-2, D McCusker 0-1, F O’Brien 0-1 (f), R Lyons 0-1, J Largo Elis 0-1, R McCaffrey 0-1.
Down: R Burns; P McCarthy, P Fegan, C Doherty; R Magill, P Laverty, M Rooney; D Guinness, R McEvoy; D Magill, O Murdock, E Branagan; J Guinness, P Havern, J McGeough
Subs: A McClements for Rooney (47), S Millar for Magill (49), C Mooney for Branagan (51), C McCrickard for J Guinness (54), P Brooks for McGeough (61).
Fermanagh: S McNally; C Cullen, L Cullen, O Smyth; J Cassidy, D McCusker, F O’Brien; J McDade, D McGurn; C McGee, R Lyons, P Breen; J Largo Elis, G Jones, C Love.
Subs: S McGullion for Breen (14), R McCaffrey for Lyons (53), S Cassidy for McGee (58).
Referee: J Henry (Mayo).
