Ulster U20 Football Championship
Tier 2 Play-off
Antrim 0-10 Fermanagh 1-16
A strong second half performance from visitors Fermanagh saw them overcome the challenge of a disappointing Antrim in the Tier 2 Ulster U20 Football Championship at Dunsilly on Monday night.
With the wind at their backs the Saffrons had built up a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 23d minute and were playing some good football when they lost a player to a Black card.
Fermanagh took advantage of the extra man and kicked the final point of the half through Mattie McDermott to close the gap to two at the half way stage but Antrim might have been further ahead.
After the break it was a different story as the Erne County took control, outscoring Antrim by 1-12 to 0-4 in a dominant second half with their goal coming from Mattie McDermott in the 30th minute and they will now go forward to play Down in the Tier 2 decider.
It was hosts Antrim who made the early running to move into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 11 minutes with Tom Shivers and Niall Hynds on top at mid-field and Johnny Hannon 0-2, Niall Duffy and Shivers their marksmen.
Fermanagh had opened the scoring from a Liam MacEnri free in the second minute but it would be another 11 minutes before Mattie McDermott would kick their second.
Two minutes later corner-back, Cal McAnespie came forward for a third as the Antrim early fluency began to break down with players carrying the ball too often into the tackle and being turned over.
A great point from Tom Shivers and another from Callum Walsh, when Antrim looked in for a goal, saw the home side head for the dressing room two ahead with Fermanagh’s last point coming from a Mattie McDermott free.
The second half was only 30 seconds old when McDermott converted from a Mark and when Kealan Fitzpatrick followed with another from play in the 5th minute the sides were level.
A point from Cian O’Brien and two delightful scores from Caolan Brennan saw the visitors three in front by the 10th minute and at this stage Antrim were struggling to put a move together.
Cian O’Brien kicked his second of the half for the visitors before Tom Shivers finally opened Antrim’s second half account with a pointed free in the 14th minute but it failed to spark the young Saffrons into action.
Instead they had to thank Senan Nagle who pulled off a superb diving save to deny Diarmuid Owens what looked a certain goal but the Fermanagh side kept coming in waves as Lanty Feely increased their lead with a point in the 13th minute.
Antrim were still fighting but were much too laboured in their build-ups but Connlaodh McCann kicked a nice point from near the end-line for their second score of the half with 8 minutes remaining.
It was Fermanagh who finished in total command however as Diarmuid Owens, Conor O’Hanlon and Caolan Brennan added points before Mattie McDermott shot past the excellent Senan Nagle with time almost up.
Conan Johnston and Sean Conlon for the visitors exchanged late points but by this stage it was well and truly over and it is Fermanagh who now go forward to take on Down in the final.
ANTRIM
Sean Nagle, Ciaran Maginnis, Gaireach Madhaim, Eoghan O’Hare, Paul Duffin, Conan Johnston, Connlaidh McCann, Niall Hynds, Tom Shivers, Collum Walsh, Cahir Donnelly, Niall Duffy, Callum Gribben, Johnny Hannon, Niall Fallon.
Subs: Enda McCartan for Callum Gribbin, Roan Quinn for Callum Walsh, Jack Toner for Niall Fallon, RoryMcErlean for Paul Duffin
