Fermanagh 1-12 Wexford 1-8:A sharper Fermanagh deservedly advanced to the next round of the qualifiers when they overcame a somewhat out of sorts Wexford in a low-key encounter in Clones yesterday.
Played in ideal conditions this was a contest that never rose to any great heights but Fermanagh will be relieved to finally record their first victory of the calendar year.
Both sides made a number of forced changes prior to the start. Shane Lyons and Tom Brewster both failed to start for Fermanagh and were replaced by Peter and James Sherry respectively while Eric Bradley was replaced by Peter O'Dwyer on the Wexford team.
Prior to the start a minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to the father of Wexford player Eric Bradley, whose funeral was on Saturday.
The game got off to an electrifying start with two goals in the opening three minutes and a yellow card for Wexford's Rory Stafford.
A quick raid down the left wing saw Mark Little and Eamonn Maguire exploit slackness in the Wexford defence and James Sherry had the easiest of chances to palm to the Wexford net to get Fermanagh off to the best possible start.
Within a minute though, Wexford had wiped out that score when Ciaran Lyng placed Redmond Barry who slotted home to bring Wexford level after just three minutes.
Wexford however were unable to build on this initiative and Fermanagh took a firmer grip on proceedings. Barry Owens was in superb form at full back, snuffing out many Wexford attacks while they caught they the Leinster team on quick counter attacks.
The accuracy of Ciaran O'Reilly from frees edged Fermanagh ahead with Ryan Keenan picking off two excellent points from play and he might well have had a second goal about ten minutes before the break.
Wexford for their part were now relying on the accuracy of Mattie Forde from frees and he kicked over three excellent points while Lyng added another from play two minutes into stoppage time to leave the half time score Fermanagh 1-7, Wexford 1-4.
Wexford made a promising start to the second half but were off target from an early effort and Fermanagh registered early points from Eamonn Maguire and Mark Little, the second score underlining the difference in sharpness between the sides on the day.
Wexford did eventually get on the scoreboard but it wasn't until the 52nd minute when Philip Wallace showed his attackers how it should be done.
Tom Brewster added one for Fermanagh in the 58th minute after a wasteful period that saw them hit four wides in as many minutes, chances that could have seen them put some real daylight between them.
An exchange of points between Adrian Morrissey and substitute Sean Doherty left five between them entering the final five minutes of normal time and Wexford now needing a goal to get back into the game.
They almost made it in the 32nd minute when young Paddy Byrne was put clean through but his shot was blocked on the line. Wexford, now minus Mattie Forde, battled to the end and did register two late points from Ciaran Lyng and David Fogarty either side of a second point from Sean Doherty as Fermanagh held out for a deserved win.
FERMANAGH: C Breen; S Goan, B Owens, N Bogue; P Sherry, S McDermott, T McElroy; L McBarron, M Murphy; M Little (0-1), J Sherry (1-0), E Maguire (0-2); C McElroy, C O'Reilly (0-4), R Keenan (0-2). Subs: T Brewster (0-1) for L McBarron, R Johnston for C McElroy, S Doherty (0-2) for R Keenan, D O'Reilly for B Owens.
WEXFORD: J Cooper, C Morris, B Malone, N Murphy, A Morrissey (0-1), P Wallace (0-1), G Sunderland, R Stafford, P Colfer, C Deely, M Forde (0-3), A Flynn, C Lyng (0-2), P O'Dwyer, R Barry (1-0). Subs: P Byrne for C Deely, D O'Connor for G Sutherland, S Roche for M Forde, D Fogarty (0-1) for P O'Dwyer.
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
