Gaelic Games

Profligate Fermanagh do just enough to edge out Westmeath at the death

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round One: Westmeath 1-10 Fermanagh 3-10

Westmeath’s Callum McCormack shoots under pressure from Fermanagh’s John Woods. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Westmeath’s Callum McCormack shoots under pressure from Fermanagh’s John Woods. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Sun Jun 30 2013 - 17:35

An injury-time point from right full back John Woods earned Fermanagh a deserved place in the second round of the All-Ireland senior football qualifiers, edging out pre-match favourites Westmeath by the narrowest of margins in Mullingar on Saturday afternoon.

The Ernesiders looked set to pay for their profligacy – they had shot an astonishing 20 wides to their hosts’ eight in the 70 minutes which preceded – with extra-time beckoning until Woods came forward and coolly slotted over the winner.

There was very little between the sides until Conor Quigley scored a fortuitous goal from nearly 50 metres in the 13th minute.

Some 12 minutes later, Peter Canavan's men led by two points (1-4 to 0-5) when Kieran Martin's free came back off the post and a Fermanagh counterattack yielded a well-taken goal from left corner back Damian Kelly, a clear indicator of the ease with which the winners could open up the opposition defence.

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At the break, wind-assisted Fermanagh led by 2-5 to 0-7, but the gap should have been much bigger after a wide count of 12-2 in the winners’ “favour”.

Westmeath took the lead (1-10 to 2-6) for the first time since the opening minute of the contest in the 46th minute when their leading scorer John Heslin slotted the ball to the net from a penalty after Chris Snow had upended Denis Glennon. However, within three minutes, the outstanding Ryan Jones responded with a terrific solo goal.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining and Westmeath two points in arrears, Kieran Martin was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card, but his team-mates rallied with a brace of points from Callum McCormack, the first of which should certainly have been a goal from point-blank range. Extra-time looked likely until Woods popped up to secure a memorable victory.

FERMANAGH: C Snow; J Woods (0-1), B Cox, D Kelly (1-1); D McCusker, R McCluskey, M O'Brien; E Donnelly, M McGrath; T McElroy, S McCabe, R Jones (1-0); T Corrigan (0-2), S Quigley (0-6, four frees), C Quigley (1-0). Subs: R Corrigan for C Quigley (half-time), D Kille for R Corrigan (54 mins), B Owens for McGrath (66 mins), P Ward for T Corrigan (66 mins).
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; K Maguire, K Gavin, M McCallon; J Gaffey, P Sharry, J Dolan; D Duffy, J Heslin (1-5, goal pen, four frees); K Martin, C McCormack (0-3, one 45), D Corroon (0-3); G Egan (0-2), L Smyth, D Glennon (0-2). Subs: D Dolan for Smyth (45 mins), C Curley for Duffy (68 mins).
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).