Tyrone and Fermanagh share spoils

Fermanagh 0-12 Tyrone 1-9
Report thanks to Kevin Kelly
Fermanagh ensured that they will be playing division two football next season again after a superb committed display at Brewster Park saw them secure a deserved share of the spoils against neighbours Tyrone.
Tyrone led by the minimum margin at the end of a keenly contested opening half, 1-4 to 0-6. Tomas Corrigan had Fermanagh in front after only twenty five seconds but in the second minute Tyrone centre half back Rory Brennan powered through to level matters.
Wing half back Damian Kelly, who was getting through an enormous amount of work, edged the hosts in front but in the 11th minute Tyrone struck for a goal. Great vision from Richard Donnelly on the left wing saw him find Barry Tierney and the defender kept his cool to fire low to the net past keeper Chris Snow.
Corrigan replied with a point for the home side but he was then black carded as was Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh a couple of minutes after that. Richard Donnelly had a Tyrone point but Fermanagh had the final say of the half with a well taken Sean Quigley score.
Within ten seconds of the restart Ryan Lyons had levelled matters before a free off the ground from Quigley put the Erne men in front in the 39th minute. Seven minutes later Fermanagh had a great goal chance after a flowing move but midfielder Barry Mulrone shot low and wide of the target.
Tyrone substitute Niall Sludden levelled matters but it was Fermanagh who continued to look the hungrier side with Lyons and Daniel Teague hitting quick fire points to put them 0-10 to 1-5 in front midway through the half.
Eoin Donnelly, who was superb throughout, then landed an inspirational score and Fermanagh looked set for victory. They failed they kick on though and Tyrone drew level through efforts from Richard Donnelly and substitute duo Mark Bradley and Tiernan McCann.
With seven minutes to go Fermanagh substitute Pat Cadden edged the home side back in front only for Ronan O’Neill to level matters from a free. In the closing minutes Fermanagh retained the ball well and played down the clock happy in the knowledge that they had got the result that they needed.
Scorers for Fermanagh: S Quigley 0-3 (2f), T Corrigan 0-2 (1f), R Lyons 0-2, D Kelly 0-1, P McCusker 0-1, E Donnelly 0-1, D Teague 0-1, P Cadden 0-1
Scorers for Tyrone: B Tierney 1-0, R Donnelly 0-2, R O’Neill 0-2 (1f), D McCurry 0-1 (1f), R Brennan 0-1, T McCann 0-1, N Sludden 0-1, M Bradley 0-1
FERMANAGH: C Snow, M Jones, C Cullen, M O’Brien, D McCusker, J McMahon, D Kelly, E Donnelly, B Mulrone, P McCusker, R Jones, R Lyons, D Teague, S Quigley, T Corrigan. Subs: R Corrigan for T Corrigan (black card), C Flaherty for Lyons, A Breen for P McCusker, P Cadden for Teague
TYRONE: M O’Neill, A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron, B Tierney, R Brennan, HP McGeary, C Cavanagh, M Donnelly, P McNulty, R O’Neill, R Donnelly, D McCurry, S Cavanagh, C McAliskey. Subs: M Bradley for S Cavanagh (black card), T McCann for McGeary, N Sludden for McCurry, C Clarke for McNulty
Referee: A Nolan, Wicklow