The visitors took a 1-4 to 0-6 lead into the interval which was scarcely deserved. After hitting Carlow with a Ché Cullen point in the opening minutes, the home side hit back and dominated for long spells.
Their opponents were happy to concede the kick-out and attempted to absorb Carlow’s best efforts from deep. Another defender, Declan McCusker stretched Fermanagh’s lead but a series of wides under pressure from the home defence prevented them from making little impact on the scoreboard.
Ross Dunphy hit Carlow’s first point with an overhead kick when he was forced back out the field. This was an indication of how the game was played with neither side taking risks.
Carlow defenders, Mikey Bambrick and Jamie Clarke both raised white flags while over the course of the game Fermanagh’s full-back, Ché Cullen and left-half back, Josh Largo Elis, both came forward to land two points apiece.
Minutes before the interval, Fermanagh’s, Sean Cassidy, did the hard work before off-loading to Conor McShea who treaded his way through and found the net from close range.
The second-half continued much the same as the first with both sides making errors but also picking off some nice scores.
The visitors replacements made all the difference with Conor Love, Jonathan Cassidy and Darragh McGurn all featuring on the scoreboard. Darragh Foley’s free-taking kept the home side in touch.
The Barrowsiders laid siege to the Fermanagh goal in injury time but, unlike last week, when they sucker-punched Laois, there was no late reward here.
Scorers – Fermanagh: C McShea 1-0, C Love (1f), C Cullen, U Kelm, JL Elis 0-2 each, Declan McCusker, J Cassidy, D McGurn, S McGullion, F O’Brien 0-1each. Carlow: D Foley 0-6 (5fs), J Clarke 0-2, M Bambrick, R Dunphy, A Amond, C Lomax, C Moran 0-1 each.
Fermanagh: S McNally, L Cullen, C Cullen, J Cassidy, D McCusker, S McGullion, J L Elis, B Horan, J McDade, C Jones, C McShea, F O’Brien, U Kelm, G Jones, S Cassidy. Subs: R McCaffrey for C Jones (31), C Love for G Jones (47), D McGurn for S Cassidy (58), A Breen for Horan (65).
Carlow: J Furey, C Byrne, M Furey, E Molloy, M Bambrick, J Clarke, C Hulton, C Doyle, R Dunphy, A Amond, P McDonnell, C Crowley, L Gavin, D Foley, C Lomax. Subs: K Murphy for Gavin (49), N Hickey for Lomax (55), J Phiri for Hulton (59), C Moran for Byrne (59), S Buggy for Molloy (68).
Referee: K Eannetta (Tyrone).
