In hurling there is no substitute for skill and scoring power and last year's Division Two side Carlow gave Fermanagh a lesson in both at Irvinestown yesterday.

Fermanagh needed two points to stay in Division Three, and the return of big Joe McGoldrick, a highly thought of full forward, from the big Apple this week seemed to be the stuff that dreams were made of.

But there was no joy as McGoldrick saw little of the sliothar over the hour, and Fermanagh struggled to contain Carlow's twin peaks of destruction, Niall English and Des Murphy.

Elegant centre forward English hit 1-7, while full forward Murphy banged in 5-2 - but it wasn't a two man show as Carlow clearly showed their Division Two potential. Murphy and English cracked home some splendid goals to put them ahead 3-3 to 0-3 at halftime.

Fermanagh staged a mini revival with veteran Noel McDonnell finding the net eight minutes after half time - but Murphy struck with deadly effect in the space of 60 seconds midway through the half, drifting behind the defence and rifling home two clinical strikes to end all hopes of a Fermanagh revival.