Gaelic Games

Paul McCusker strikes to earn Fermanagh win over Tipperary

Ulster side land third success in promotion push from Division Three

Paul McCusker (right) of Fermanagh: his goal eight minutes from time helped secure victory over Tipperary. Photograph: Inpho
Paul McCusker (right) of Fermanagh: his goal eight minutes from time helped secure victory over Tipperary. Photograph: Inpho
Sun Mar 01 2015 - 18:35

Fermanagh 2-9 Tipperary 0-11

A goal by Paul McCusker eight minutes from time secured a third consecutive victory for Fermanagh who continued their promotion push from Division Three of the Allianz Football League.

While Tipp, one of the fancied sides in this division, were unlucky to lose to Armagh in their opening league game, they could have no complaints about their second defeat on the road to Ulster opposition yesterday.

Despite building an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead in Brewster Park, they struggled in midfield and lacked cohesion.

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Indiscipline also cost Tipperary with black cards for Barry Grogan and Paddy Codd at a crucial period of the second half unsettling them. They were also reduced to 14 men in injury-time when Robbie Kiely picked up a second yellow card.

Tipp had seven different scorers in the first half while Fermanagh relied heavily on Sean Quigley, whose goal after 23 minutes left the Erne men level at 1-4 to 0-7 at the break.

Conor Sweeney was the only Tipp player to score for the visitors in the second half and it remained nip and tuck throughout the second half until McCusker palmed in a second goal, following an unselfish pass by Quigley, eight minutes from the end.

FERMANAGH: T Treacy; M Jones, T Daly, M O'Brien (0-1); D McCusker, D Kelly, J McMahon; E Donnelly, R O'Callaghan; P McCusker (1-0), R Jones (0-2), B Mulrone; T Corrigan (0-1), S Quigley (1-5, 0-5 frees), R Corrigan Subs: N Cassidy for M Jones (68 mins).
TIPPERARY: E Comerford (0-1, 45); A Campbell, P Codd, A Morrissey; S Kennedy, P Acheson, R Kiely; C O'Riordan, S O'Brien (0-1); G Hannigan (0-1), B Grogan (0-1), P Austin (0-1); C Sweeney (0-5, four frees), M Quinlivan (0-1), I Fahey Subs: L Casey for O'Brien (45 mins), B Mulvihill for Grogan (bc, 54 mins), D Dwyer for Austin (56 mins), S Flynn for Codd (bc, 58 mins), D Lonergan for Sweeney (70 mins).
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)