Dalata Ulster U20 Football Championship,
Group A
Antrim 0-17 Fermanagh 1-14
Following midweek hammering for both of the teams in action at Dunsilly today, both Antrim and Fermanagh were determined that they were better than those midweek results had indicated.
After an hour’s football both sides will be happy to get a point each on the table with the Saffrons perhaps the happier following a last minute Tarlach Enright point from a ‘45’ that earned his side a deserved draw.
The Saffrons had only themselves to blame for being in that position however as they looked well on their way to victory when they led by six with as many minutes of the 60 remaining.
Antrim had dominated for long periods during the second half and a first win in two years looked on the cards but, Fermanagh rallied superbly to rattle off seven scores in quick succession to edge ahead in added time before Enright salvaged a point with that late equaliser.
Both teams had conceded big scores in midweek with the Erne-siders trounced by Tyrone and Antrim suffering a similar fate to Donegal, so this was a huge test of character for today’s opponents and they responded accordingly.
Antrim manager Colin Toal made a number of changes for today’s game with the switch of Donncha McGurk from midfield into full-back and Niall Hynds taking up McGurk’s mid-field birth and it proved an excellent move as the St Brigid’s man had a solid game at the edge of the square while Hynds battled hard at mid-field.
At the other end, Lorcan Phillips marked his promotion from the bench to the starting team with the game’s opening score as Antrim settled much better in the difficult conditions with Rory McErlean kicking a free and Sé Ferris added another from play.
Fermanagh took a time to settle but struck decisively with a goal after 13 minutes as Cian O’Brien’s through ball sent Conor Mulligan through to fire to the net.
O’Brien, who kicked 0-9 over the hour, landed his first two including a beauty from play before Antrim regained control with Enright’s first 45 of the day followed by a point from Corey Walsh before Conhuir Johnston got free to fist over.
Mulligan and Rory McErlean traded points as Antrim held a slender advantage late in the opening period but Fermanagh would take the lead into the break as O’Brien slung over an excellent two-pointer and then added a late free to give his side a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage.
Lanty Feely added another for the3 visitors, four minutes after the break to extend the gap to three, but Fermanagh would fail to score for the next 20minutes as Antrim took control again.
The impressive Enright converted two, two-point frees and McErlean added three more with Conhuir Johnston hitting a brace to bring his tally for the day to three as the Saffrons led by six heading into the home straight.
The home side looked to have done enough at this stage for their first win of the campaign but Fermanagh rallied superbly as they kicked seven unanswered points in just nine minutes through O’Brien (four frees), Mattie McDermott (two) and Shay Deazley to edge ahead deep into added time.
Fermanagh lost Kealán Fitzpatrick to a second yellow late on as Antrim engineered one last raid, winning a 45 which Enright nailed to salvage a draw, which on the balance of play, was perhaps a fair outcome.
Next up for Antrim is a trip to Newry on Wednesday to face Down (7.30pm).
Antrim: S Nagle; S Doyle, D McGurk, C Hale; R Quinn, P Duffin, E Walsh; N Hynds, S Ferris (0-1); C Walsh (0-1), T Enright (0-6, 2x2ptf, 2x45s), R McErlean (0-5, 5f); JJ Higgins, C Johnston (0-3), L Phillips (0-1).
Subs: O Quinn for JJ Higgins (42), C McAleese for L Phillips (52), S Boyd for C Walsh (55), M McKenna for S Ferris (60+4).
Fermanagh: C Brown; S McCarron, C Mulligan (1-1), K McGoldrick; L Feely (0-1), O Swift, C McAnespie; L MacEnrí, B Warnock; C Brennan, D Chapman, S Deazley (0-1); K Fitzpatrick, M McDermott (0-2), C O’Brien (0-9, 1x2pt, 6f).
Subs: D Cathcart for B Warnock (42), B Goodwin for D Chapman (45), J Tierney for K McGoldrick (48), D Flanagan for C Brennan (50).
Referee: M Moore (Down)
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