McDermott gives Fermanagh edge

Fermanagh 0-11 Louth 0-10: FERMANAGH GOT off to a flying start in Lisnaskea yesterday with points from Patrick Cadden, Matthew Keenan and Eamonn Maguire. Louth improved by the end of the first quarter and by half-time held a 0-7 to 0-6 lead thanks mainly through the trickery of corner forward Colm Judge, who was a constant threat.

The introduction at half-time of Shane McDermott to midfield gave Fermanagh a deciding sway and, as a result, their attacking threat was almost constant.

They regained the lead with a double score in the ninth minute of the second half, from Keenan and Little, who then put them two points up, 0-9 to 0-7, and they held the advantage for the remainder of the game.

FERMANAGH: C Breen; S Goan, S Lyons, N Bogue; D Kelly, R McCluskey, T McElroy; M Murphy, C Boyle; S Doherty, M Keenan (0-4, one free), M Little (0-2, one free); P Cadden (0-3, all frees), J McGurn (0-1), E Maguire (0-1). Subs: Shane McDermott for Boyle (half-time), N Keenan for Doherty (56 mins), R Keenan for Cadden (63 mins).

LOUTH: S Connor; A Page, D Finnegan, J Neary; J O'Brien, C Goss, R Finnegan; M Fanning, R Carroll; J Murray, A Hoey (0-4, three frees, one 45), M Stanfield; C Judge (0-2), S Lennon (0-2), B Whyte (0-1, free). Subs: P Keenan for O'Brien and D Clarke (0-1, free) for Whyte (40 mins), JJ Quigley for Murray (63 mins).

Referee: T Quigley (Dublin).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times