NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B
Fermanagh 1-9 v Warwickshire 2-12
Former Antrim star Liam Watson was the star of the show with 2-10 in Saturday’s NHL clash in Brewster Park against a Fermanagh side who have now picked up two defeats in a row.
The Fermanagh team last week went down to Longford and with a second defeat coming just 6 days later the chances of promotion for Sean Duffy’s charges have already became slim.
The game itself was played in front of a lively crowd who seen a decent game played on an excellent Brewster Park surface.
Warwickshire held the upper hand early on and hit the three opening points of the game thanks to Liam Watson before the opening goal of the game arrived in the 8th minute as a long ball in from John Duffy seen Sean Corrigan superbly tuck away his shot to the back of the net to make the game all level.
Liam Watson and Shea Curran then exchanged points for their sides before Ryan Bogue showed a real touch of panache as he took on the Warwickshire defence and pointed to leave it 1-2 to 0-4 in favour of the home side after 23 minutes.
Wing half back Donnacha Kennedy then got forward to point for Warwickshire before corner forward Ian Dwyer got in on the scoring act to restore the Warwickshire lead, 1-2 to 0-6 after 30 minutes.
John Duffy then created another fine pass to Shea Curran to point and as Conor McShea pointed for Fermanagh it kept the Erne County 1-4 to 0-6 going into additional time at the end of the first half.
Sean Corrigan made it three in a row for Fermanagh with a finely stroked point but immediately after this Liam Watson was to take on the Fermanagh defence and the former Loughgiel Shamrocks star raced clear to score a quite spectacular goal to make it a one point game.
Warwickshire’s Colm McBride then picked up a second yellow card to make his side play the entire second half with 14 men and just before the half time whistle Shea Curran pointed from a close in free to leave it 1-6 apiece at the break.
The second half could have not got off any better for Warwickshire as they hit an early goal through the imperious Watson and a further two frees from the John Mitchels player made it 1-6 to 2-8 in favour of Warwickshire.
Conor McShea replied for Fermanagh with a point and soon after this Francis McBrien got up from centre half back pointed and when Sean Corrigan pointed it was three in a row for the Ernesiders to leave it 1-9 to 2-8 with 19 minutes remaining at Brewster Park.
The game then went a full 12 minutes without seeing a score with both sides guilty of a number of wides but two Liam Watson points in a row pushed Warwickshire 2-10 to 1-9 ahead as the game entered the final few minutes.
Liam Watson was now playing incredible hurling and his touch and skill was clearly evident with two late scores in injury time to cap off a splendid afternoon for himself and his side as they made it two wins from two.
For Fermanagh they may not come up against a player of Liam Watson’s quality for the rest of the season, next up for Duffy’s side is Sligo away and a first win is urgently wanted to kick start the season.
FERMANAGH – Colum McPhillips, Dairmuid Russell, Mark Slevin, Thomas Cleary, Eoin Mahon, Francis McBrien, Rory Porteous, John Duffy, Ryan Bogue, Barrie Duffy, John Paul McGarry, Eoin Cleary, Sean Corrigan, Shea Curran, Conor McShea.
SUBS – David Teague for T Cleary (HT), Brendan McGarry for E Cleary (62).
Scorers – Sean Corrigan 1-2, Shea Curran 0-3, Conor McShea 0-2, Ryan Bogue 0-1, Francis McBrien 0-1.
WARWICKSHIRE – Mike Cremin, Seamus Brough, Kieran Boxwell, Michael O’Reagan, Chris Brough, Willy Allen, Donnacha Kennedy, Paul Hoban, Colm McBride, Shane Conlan, Padraic Crehan, Chris Convery, Ian Dwyer, Liam Watson, Kelvin McGee.
SUBS – Ciaran McMulland for C Convery (HT), Tom Kelly for K McGee (56), Conor Robbins for S Conlan (68).
Scorers – Liam Watson 2-10, Donnacha Kennedy 0-1, Ian Dwyer 0-1.
Referee – James Connors (Donegal)
