Fermanagh thump Tipperary to keep promotion bid on track

Goals win matches as Fermanagh showed as they took a step closer to promotion after this nine-point win over Tipperary in Ederney.

Sean Quigley and Aidan Breen blasted home the vital goals in the 10th and 28th minutes which gave them a pretty unassailable lead.

Tipperary battled well for long periods but were not able to make any real impression on the athletic home side.

But the goals were needed, as Fermanagh hit eight wides from scorable positions in that half and failed to score for 15 minutes.

But even though they won by nine points it was a patchy performance from the home side, who never looked like losing against a physically powerful Tipp side.

This defeat for Declan Browne's men means they have real relegation worries as the league heads into a fortnight's break.

Fermanagh can now look forward to a crunch home match with Westmeath on 18 March.

Wind-assisted Fermanagh had a nervous opening but opened their scoring after Quigley converted a mark after four minutes.

Kevin Fahey responded for Tipp in a tepid opening ten minutes as Fermanagh’s Tommy McCaffrey hit a glorious point from the sideline for the home side who also hit two bad wides.

But they got the boost they needed when a surging run from Ultan Kelm saw his screaming shot blocked by Tipperary goalkeeper Michael O’Reilly, only for Quigley to pounce and volley the rebound to the roof of the net.

Tipperary hit back with a fine point from midfielder Jack Kennedy on 12 minutes.

The home side had loads of possession but hit five bade wides and did not score again for a full 15 minutes.

Tipp were struck a heavy blow when they lost influential midfielder Jack Kennedy to a black card for a challenge on Fermanagh’s Brandon Horan in the 18th minute.

They were also unlucky two