Free-scoring Fermanagh star Quigley puts Antrim to the sword

Fermanagh 1-21 Antrim 0-11

Free-scoring Fermanagh star Quigley puts Antrim to the sword

Fermanagh 1-21 Antrim 0-11

Sean Quigley had one of those days that most inter-county footballers can only dream about.

Fermanagh’s hit-man tortured four different markers at Brewster Park as he scored for fun, hitting 14 points in Fermanagh’s All-Ireland SFC Round 2B Qualifier win over Antrim.

Having narrowly failed to shock Monaghan in the Ulster semi-final, Pete McGrath’s Erne men produced another quality performance to go into Monday morning’s draw, and they can justifiably feel that a visit to Croke Park is not beyond them this summer.

Roslea man Quigley may have been the star of the show, but there were many quality performers in a Fermanagh side that never looked like losing.

Fermanagh were able to get quick and accurate ball to the front men in the closing stages, and eased ahead through Quigley, and Tomas Corrigan.

Antrim drew level on each occasion, however, with Michael Pollock knocking over a couple of points to punish nervous defending.

The Erne defensive system soon began to work more effectively, and with Marty O’Brien breaking from deep to support the attack, they were by far the more balanced outfit.

Owen Gallagher did edge the Saffrons in front in the eighth minute, but the home side, with Eoin Donnelly and Richard O’Callaghan getting on top around the middle, reeled off seven points on the spin.

Quigley was the main man. Now with his third man-marker, he displayed his eye for the posts from frees and play, with Barry Mulrone and Paul McCusker also hitting the target, before corner back Niall Cassidy pushed up to get his name on the score-sheet.

Antrim went 23 minutes without a score, until substitute Niall McKeever split the posts with his first touch, and Justin Crozier added a long range effort.

But Fermanagh countered again, and when Barry Mulrone sent McCusker clear, a goal looked certain, but Chris Kerr responded with a brilliant save.

Quigley converted his second ’45 to send the Erne men in with a 0-11 to 0-5 interval lead.

Quigley was unstoppable. Now being shadowed by a fourth marker, he struck two more wonderful points from play in the opening three minutes of the second half, before bringing his tally into double figures with a 47-metre free.

Antrim pulled back points through Pollock and sub CJ McGourty, but their hopes were dashed when O’Brien netted a 55th-minute goal, finishing the loose ball to the net after he appeared to have lost possession.

Quigley continued to thrill with his clinical finishing, and he received an ovation when substituted a minute from the end, job done, and polished off in style with late scores from substitutes Conall Jones and Sean McManus.

Fermanagh: Thomas Treacy, Mickey Jones, Tiarnan Daly, Niall Cassidy (0-1), Declan McCusker, James McMahon, Marty O’Brien (1-0), Eoin Donnelly, Richard O’Callaghan. Barry Mulrone (0-1), Sean Quigley (0-14, 5f, 2 ’45), Damian Kelly, Paul McCusker (0-1), Ryan Jones, Tomas Corrigan (0-1).

Subs: D Kille (0-1) for Corrigan, C Jones (0-1) for D McCusker, A Breen for O’Brien, C Cullen for O’Callaghan, S McManus (0-1) for Quigley

Antrim: Chris Kerr (0-1, ’45), Niall Delargy, Sean McVeigh, James Laverty, Justin Crozier (0-1), Tony Scullion, Ricky Johnson, Conor Murray, Benny Hasson, Declan Lynch, Dermot McAleese, Michael Pollock (0-3, 1f), Mark Sweeney (0-1), Ryan Murray, Owen Gallagher (0-1).

Subs: N McKeever (0-1) for Lynch, CJ McGourty (0-3, 1f) for McAleese, J Dowling for Hasson, R McGrady for McVeigh, N O’Neill for Gallagher, C Duffin for Murray

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).

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