Dramatic late show rescues a draw for plucky Fermanagh

Lazarus, Houdini and Dick Turpin are alive and well in Fermanagh after the Ernesiders pulled off the mother of all comebacks to deny an excellent Sligo two points in a frenetic finish in Brewster Park.

It looked bleak for the home side as they trailed by 0-16 to 0-08 by the 56th minute and even bleaker when they were behind by five points on a score of 0-19 to 0-14 going into injury time.

But two superb two pointers from Garvan Jones and Sean Cassidy and a last gasp point from keeper Sean McNally tied matters against a Sligo side who were shattered by the sudden reversal in fortunes.

For Tony McEntee's men played the better football for long periods and especially in the first 20 minutes of the second half when they tagged on eight points in a blistering period of dominance-brilliantly led by their captain Niall Murphy.

Fermanagh looked a beaten side, but their captain Declan McCusker hit an inspirational two pointer to haul his side back from the brink and they also hit ten wides.

And, as Sligo tired, the Ernesiders went for broke and came away with the unlikeliest draws which keeps their promotion hopes alive.

For Sligo, who made a number of switches before the match, this was a huge improvement on their dismal defeat to Laois a fortnight ago.

And they know this was a point dropped.

Fermanagh had the better start and had two lightning points in almost as many minutes.

Team captain Declan McCusker dipped the shoulders and arrowed over a fine point after 90 seconds.

His fellow wing back doubled that tally a minute later and Sligo had hard luck as Alan Reilly had an effort come off the post and Niall Murphy opened their account after eight minutes.

Darragh Cummins levelled matters as a determined Sligo grew into the game.

Fionan