Fermanagh take first win over toothless Longford

Fermanagh registered their first win in the Tailteann Cup with a facile victory over a poor Longford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Played in glorious sunshine, it may have been a championship game, but the football on display was far from championship standard.

Longford were toothless, while Fermanagh were relentless. With this defeat Longford are out of this year's competition, with two losses from two games.

Ryan Lyons registered the opening score of the game inside the first minute. Dylan Farrell levelled for Longford before the Erne County opened up a three-point lead with simple scores from Fionan O’Brien, Declan McCusker and Lyons.

Longford had chances, but went for two-pointers and kicked four wides in a row.

Josh Largo Ellis put five between the sides in the 23rd minute. Fermanagh dictated play and opened up Longford on a number of occasions.

Dessie Reynolds marked his 100th appearance for Longford with a two pointer in the 25th minute; their first score in 24 minutes of play.

O’Brien and Conor Love replied with points for Fermanagh, before a point from Dylan Farrell in stoppage time saw the lead cut to five points - 0-09 to 0-04.

Fermanagh were clinical in the opening exchanges of the second half. Garvan Jones kicked over a two-pointer to extend the lead to seven in the 37th minute. Luke Flanagan then forced Longford keeper Paddy Collum into making a save.

The lead was 10 points in the 41st minute with Jones (free), Darragh McGurn and Joe McDade all hitting over scores.

After 11 minutes without a score and being overrun, Longford got a point in the 47th minute when Jayson Matthews kicked over. Aaron Farrell followed that up with another point for the Midlanders. Substitute Oran Kenny hit the upright with his effort in the 50th minute.

Fermanagh had been probing, and they got a goal in the 55th minute; McGurn passed to Love and he palmed the ball to the net. Minutes later Collum brought off a fine save to deny Lyons.

Substitute Aogan Kelm got on the scoresheet in the 61st minute and minutes later the Longford netminder pulled off a superb save from Lyons.

Josh Largo-Ellis fired over a point in stoppage time before Kelm sealed the win with a goal right at the end.

Key: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Che Cullen, Lee Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Shane McGullion, Declan McCusker (0-01), Fionan O’Brien (0-03); Joe McDade (0-01), Darren McGurn (0-01); Conor McGee (0-01), Ryan Lyons (0-03), Luke Flanagan; Josh Largo-Ellis (0-02), Garvan Jones (0-04, 1tp,1f), Conor Love (1-02).

Subs: Ronan McCaffrey for McGee (46'), Diarmuid Owens for Love (58'), Aogan Kelm (1-01) for McGullion (60'), Oisin Murphy for McGurn and Jack Largo-Ellis for McCusker (65')

Longford: Longford: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson; Iarla O’Sullivan, James Moran, Cian Brady; Dessie Reynolds (0-02,1tp), Daire Duggan; Jayson Matthews (0-01), Matthew Carey, Dylan Farrell (0-03); Aaron Farrell (0-01), Keelin McGann, Caolan Lynch.

Subs: Oran Kenny for McGann (47'), Ryan Moffett for Brady (50'), Paddy Moran for Lynch (53'), Darragh Finlass for Masterson (60'), Jamie Brady-Hynes for A Farrell (65')

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

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