Allianz Hurling League Division 3A Promotion/Relegation Playoff
Tyrone 1-24 v Fermanagh 1-19 (AFTER EXTRA TIME)
Fermanagh will once again have to contend themselves to Division 3B in 2017 after going down by 5 points against near neighbours Tyrone in Ballyshannon on Saturday last in the Division 3A promotion/relegation clash.
The Erne men came into the game as Division 3B champions but sadly the GAA hierarchy make the winners then playoff with the second bottom side of Division 3A which was Kevin Ryan’s Tyrone side.
Although Tyrone have held the upper hand against Fermanagh in the past few seasons it was the Ernesiders who started the brighter side with Sean Corrigan pointing.
Corrigan was to be Fermanagh’s main outlet all day and for Tyrone it was Damien Casey and it was Casey who soon made it one apiece.
Corrigan and Casey exchanged scores once again before Casey Tyrone ahead in the game for the first time after ten minutes.
Sean Corrigan and Aidan Kelly then exchanged points before Fermanagh pushed ahead with 4 unanswered points coming from Sean Corrigan (2) and John Paul McGarry (2) to put them deservedly 0-7 to 0-4 ahead on 26 minutes.
Tiarnan Morgan replied for Tyrone but it was Fermanagh who were playing the more enterprising hurling and John Duffy done well before setting up Sean Corrigan for a score.
Right on the stroke of half time Aidan Kelly pointed to leave it Fermanagh 0-8 to Tyrone’s 0-6 at the break.
The second half started just like the first with both sides going point for point as Sean Corrigan added a further Fermanagh score before Damien Casey landed two beauties to leave it just a one point game.
Casey then made it all square with a fantastic 65 but from that it was Fermanagh that pushed on with Sean Corrigan and Daniel Teague (pictured) pointed before Teague was to score the games opening goal to make it 1-11 to 0-9 with 20 minutes remaining.
Damien Casey who was superb throughout the game pointed two point in as many minutes to reduce the deficit to just three points but Fermanagh’s John Duffy then drilled over for the Erne men as they set themselves up for a winning finish.
Tyrone’s Casey pointed once again after being found by Grogan but a Sean Corrigan free pushed Fermanagh 1-13 to 0-12 ahead with 14 minutes left.
Casey and Corrigan exchanged scores from frees before a Conor McNally goal for Tyrone set the game up for a dramatic finish.
Deep into added on time it was to be Damien Casey who was to be the Tyrone hero who earned his side extra time with a firmly struck shot over the bar to leave it at full time, 1-14 apiece.
Fermanagh started the extra time first half with a Daniel Teague point, the Lisbellaw hurler and Maguiresbridge footballer had just the weekend before made a fine NFL debut for Pete McGrath’s charges.
Tyrone though forged ahead with a trio of points coming from Conor Grogan, Damien Casey and Sean Og Grogan to move the Tyrone side 1-17 to 1-15 in front. Sean Corrigan and John Paul McGarry levelled matters but it was Tyrone who would go in at half time leading as Conor Grogan pointed from 35 yards.
Conor Grogan pointed first in extra time’s second half to make it 1-19 to 1-17 but Sean Corrigan who was superb all day pointed after neat play by.
Tyrone though were to move well ahead mid way through the second half with Damien Casey (2) and Eoghan O’Sullivan pointing to leave it 1-22 to 1-18 with just 4 minutes remaining.
Sean Corrigan and Ryan McKernan exchanged points and it was probably fitting that Damien Casey would hit the final score to give Tyrone a 5 point victory and that all important Division 3A place in 2017.
For Fermanagh its Division 3B once again in 2017 with Sligo, Leitrim, Longford and Warwickshire.
The Nicky Rackard Cup is up next for the Erne men as Monaghan come to Brewster Park on Saturday April 23rd.
