Fermanagh had appeared to be in control of matters as they led 0-8 to 0-2 at half-time and that advantage stretched out to seven early in the second half.
However, Antrim rallied and a goal from Cathal Hynds in the 68th minute put them into the lead for the first time and they held on to clinch the win.
Fermanagh dictated the contest in the first half with their defence well on top of the Antrim attackers while at the other end Sean Cassidy, Ultan Kelm, Callum Jones, Fionan O’Brien and Declan McCusker lofted over scores to ease them into a deserved six-point half-time lead.
When Ronan McCaffrey then tagged on the first point of the second half Fermanagh looked well-placed to go on and seal the win.
However, Antrim started to wrestle control in the middle third and the Saffron’s bench made a massive impact on the contest, contributing 0-6 in the second half.
Goalkeeper Michael Byrne drilled over three 45’s during the contest while in the second half Peter Healy, Dominic McEnhill and Daniel McNicholl registered scores.
With ten minutes to go Fermanagh were still in the driving seat but points from Eoin Hynds, Peter Healy and Patrick McBride closed the gap back to one, 0-11 to 0-10.
The key score of the game then arrived as Cathal Hynds finished low to the net to put Antrim ahead for the first time and an Eoin Hynds point wrapped up a 1-11 to 0-11 win for Andy McEntee’s charges.
Scorers – Fermanagh: S Cassidy 0-3 (1m, 1f), U Kelm 0-2, C Jones 0-1 (f), F O’Brien 0-1, J McDade 0-1, D McCusker 0-1, R McCaffrey 0-1, G Jones 0-1. Antrim: M Byrne 0-3 (45s), C Hynds 1-0, P Healy 0-2, E Hynds 0-2, P McBride 0-1 (f), D McNicholl 0-1, D McEnhill 0-1, R McQuillan 0-1
Fermanagh: S McNally; L Cullen, C Cullen, J Cassidy; D McCusker, S McGullion, J Largo Elis; B Horan, J McDade; C Jones, C McShea, F O’Brien; U Kelm, R McCaffrey, S Cassidy. Subs: D McGurn for McGullion (49), G Jones for C Jones (55), C Love for Cassidy (55), T Bogue for Horan (70).
Antrim: M Byrne; D Lynch, E Walsh, K Keenan; J McDonnell, J Finnegan, D McAleese; P McAleer, C Hynds; C McLarnon, P McBride, R McCann (Creggan), R McQuillan, R McCann (Aghagallon), M Jordan. Subs: P Healy for Lynch (43), D McElhill for McQuillan (43), C Hand for McLarnon (43), E Hynds for P McAleer (49), N Burns for Keenan (70).
