NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2
FERMANAGH V TYRONE
SUNDAY APRIL 3RD 2016
REFEREE – ANTHONY NOLAN (WICKLOW)
So it comes down to to Sunday and to see can Fermanagh stay in division 2 or will they fall through the trap door and back down to division 3 football for 2017.
Fermanagh have already locked horns with Tyrone this season in the McKenna Cup Semi Final that seen Mickey Harte’s side run out 7 point winners.
Fermanagh had started the campaign with a heavy defeat to Derry but quickly picked up a win in round 2 against Meath. Armagh then defeated the Erne men in round 3 before Fermanagh defeated Laois 1-17 to 0-10 in round 4 in one of the best performances this year. A defeat to Cavan in round 5 all but ruled out promotion and all of a sudden relegation was possible.
A late, late Declan McCusker point last week away in Tuam now has us sitting on 5 points in a league table that can see any 2 of 4 teams get relegated come Sunday evening.
At least one of Meath or Laois will get relegated with the game in Portlaoise sure to draw a huge Leinster following. Fermanagh will be safe if Armagh lose at home to Derry even if the Erne footballers are defeated against Tyrone. However if Armagh win Fermanagh will need to beat Tyrone, again though depending on the Laois v Meath outcome.
Tyrone come into the game knowing they have a trip to Croke Park to look forward to on April 24th. The Tyrone bandwagon have had a fine year which seen them win the McKenna Cup and then the opening 5 NFL games that confirmed promotion to Division 1 for 2017.
Last time out in round 6 they conceded a goal right at the very end of the game that seen Armagh claim a valuable draw on a wet Omagh surface.
There is no doubting the talent that is currently in this Tyrone side with a sub bench that would make the starting fifteen in many other Counties. Last night the Under-21 side claimed a spot in the Ulster Final with a win over Donegal and with a strong Minor side once again this year it is no surprise that football is really booming in the Red Hands County.
So can Fermanagh get something on Sunday? Well why not the likes of Tomas Corrigan and Sean Quigley had fine games in Tuam, while the defence seen the return of Ryan McCluskey who was him usual self, calm and precise with his passing.
Tyrone will look to the Donnelly and Cavanagh brothers, while players such as Rory Brennan and Ronan O’Neill have made the transition from top youth player to fine senior players look very easy.
Good luck to both teams.
