Fermanagh 2-9;   Sligo 0-11: Fermanagh fully justified their tag as genuine promotion hopefuls with a display of real character in a highly entertaining game.

They led by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time, having dominated the first period before conceding two frees which Gerry McGowan converted to give Sligo a lifeline.

Rory Gallagher, playing at full forward, scored Fermanagh's first goal in the 17th minute and had a hand in the second, converted in the opening minute of the second half by Raymond Johnston.

Following Johnston's goal, Sligo quickly reduced the margin to three points (2-6 to 0-8) as their midfield of Paul Durkin and Kieran Quinn, along with Karl O'Neill behind them and Eamonn O'Hara in front, carried the game to an overworked Fermanagh defence.

The half was 20 minutes old before Fermanagh's next score (a Raymond Gallagher point), and it took a number of astute substitutions to turn the game in their favour.

However, Sligo refused to yield, with McGowan pointing a free and then creating a score for John McPartland to reduce the deficit to three points (2-7 to 0-10) with ample time remaining.

Fermanagh badly needed another point to take the pressure off their defence and it duly arrived, Sligo full back Eddie Brennan spilling the ball to allow Tom Brewster to score.

When Rory Gallagher added another point, victory was complete.

FERMANAGH: Ronan Gallagher; C Fitzpatrick, P McGuinness, M Lilly; S Burns, J Gilheaney, N Cox; M Greene, L McBarron; R Johnston (1-1), P Brewster, T Brewster, (0-1); Raymond Gallagher (0-2), Rory Gallagher (1-3), C Bradley (0-2). Subs: B Owens for Fitzpatrick, R McCabe for Bradley, K Donnelly for McBarron, M McGrath for Greene, S McDermott for Johnston.

SLIGO: J Curran; P Naughton, N Carew, B Phillips; P Doohan, M Langan, K O'Neill; P Durkin, K Quinn; J McPartland (0-1), E O'Hara and S Davey; M Brehony (0-2), D Sloyne (0-3), G McGowan (0-5). Subs: D Durkin for Langan, E Brennan for Carew, T Brennan for Sloyne, P Gallagher for Naughton.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).