Grim story for Orchard as Erne win
ARMAGH midfielder Niall Grimley saw red as Fermanagh blew Armagh away in a ten-minute period after half-time at Brewster Park last night.
Grimley was ordered off following an incident with Erne marksman Seamus Quigley, and Fermanagh surged clear with four unanswered points to lead by 0-10 to 0-4 by the 45th minute.
Armagh threw on talismanic team captain Rory Grugan who was unfit to start, and he quickly nailed two frees to narrow the gap to four points.
But they hit six bad wides in a brave bid to get back on terms, with a total of 12 over the entire game.
In contrast Seamie Quigley ruthlessly punished all Orchard indiscretions.
Fermanagh settled swiftly and had a great chance of an early goal when Sean Quigley struck the upright and the ball fell kindly for his brother Seamus, whose point blank shot was brilliantly smothered by Armagh keeper Blaine Hughes.
But Seamus made amends when he converted an acute 21 yards free to open the scoring before Fermanagh’s impressive centre forward Declan Mccusker arrowed over a second point.
Armagh replied through the bustling Mark Shields in the sixth minute before the Erne County’s Barry Mulrone hit the point of the match as the Ernesiders lead by 0-3 to 0-1 and this was added to by towering midfielder to put them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the 10th minute.
But Kieran Mcgeeney’s boys got back into the match through a fine free from 45 metres from Rafferty.
The final quarter of the opening half saw Jones and Seamus Quigley on target for Fermanagh, with Gavin Mcparland replying for Armagh.
Fermanagh were well worth their 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead and, with the breeze behind them, they certainly stamped their authority on the second half when Seamus Quigley reigned supreme.
FERMANAGH: P Cadden, K Connor, C Cullen, M Jones; B Mulrone (0-1) L Cullen (0-1) J Mcmahon; E Donnelly, R Jones (0-2); P Mccusker, D Mccusker (0-1), A Breen; Sean Quigley (0-1) C Jones, Seamus Quigley (0-65f) Subs; C Corrigan for Sean Quigley (57), D Teague or P Mccusker (63) E Maguire for Breen (65), Tom Clarke for Conall Jones (74)
ARMAGH: B Hughes, P Burns, C Macklin, A Mckay; C Vernon, G Mccabe, A Forker; B Donaghy, N Grimley; R Shields, M Shields (0-1) B Crealey; G Mcparland (0-1f) A Murnin, E Rafferty (0-21f) Subs; N Rowland for Crealey (31), J Mcelroy for Mackin (45), R Grugan (0-3f) for Mcparland (47), J Hall for Mcshane (50), E Mcgeown for Rafferty (61)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)