Corrigan the star for Division 3B champions Fermanagh
15/04/2012 - 18:28:07
Fermanagh 2-15 Warwickshire 2-5
Sean Corrigan scored 2-3 for Fermanagh as they captured their first Allianz Hurling League Division 3B title at Parnell Park this afternoon.
Fermanagh led right from the off in a contest which saw three players dismissed in the second half - Warwickshire duo Michael Bermingham and Daire Maskey, along with Fermanagh's Cathal McGarry.
Seamus McCusker's Ernesiders shot ahead after just a minute when Corrigan claimed a point from play. Midfielder Ryan Bogue extended their lead to 0-2 to 0-0 after three-and-a-half minutes.
Warwickshire stormed back and had plenty of scoring opportunities over the next five minutes. They outscored their opponents by 0-2 to 0-1 during this spell with Chris Brough and Kieran Courtney on target, but the Exiles should have added further scores.
A sixth-minute Emmet McCabe effort was cleared out by Fermanagh captain Karl Kehoe, while Tipperary native Michael Ivors sent a free wide of the posts.
At the opposite end the Ulster side were far more clinical and added 1-1 to their tally in a two-minute spell. Eoin Morrissey slotted over his lone score of the contest before Corrigan broke through for his first goal.
A high ball was gathered by Shea Curran and he quickly offloaded to Corrigan who left Warwickshire goalkeeper Mike Cremin with no chance.
Andrew Breslin had a chance to add a second goal for Fermanagh in the 15th minute but he blazed a close range shot wide of the target, despite only having keeper Cremin to beat.
A brace of Ivors points cut the deficit to a goal midway through the half, but Fermanagh continued to look dangerous.
McCusker's men outscored their opponents by four points to one in the second quarter, with three Ryan Bogue scores and a Breslin point helping them take a 1-8 to 0-5 interval lead.
Midfield Michael Bermingham claimed Warwickshire's lone score during this spell, and Stephen Ahern's charges promised better in the second half.
However, Fermanagh were the sharper of the sides on the resumption. They landed six unanswered points to move 1-14 to 0-5 ahead with John Duffy, Shea Curran, Declan McGarry, Corrigan and Paul McGoldrick all on target.
It got worse for Warwickshire with the dismissal of Bermingham at the start of the final quarter, yet they continued to fight hard for scores despite being down to 14 men.
Their first second half score came 15 minutes from the end as Courtney netted a much-needed goal.
Fermanagh quickly responded with Corrigan registering his second goal after good work by McGoldrick, ensuring a 2-15 to 1-5 lead in the 58th minute.
McGarry and Maskey were dismissed following an off-the-ball incident ten minutes from the end.
Warwickshire continued to press hard, with Ivors the last player to get a touch to the ball as it inched through a crowded goalmouth in the 68th minute for his side's second goal.
However, this score came too late for Warwickshire to mount a comeback, with Fermanagh's Karl Kehoe lifting the trophy after the game.
FERMANAGH: D McPhilips; D Teague, C McGarry, E Mahon; F McBrien, M Slevin, K Kehoe; B Smith, R Bogue (0-4, 0-2f); J Duffy (0-1), E Morrissey (0-1), JP McGarry; S Corrigan (2-3), S Curran (0-2), A Breslin (0-1).
Subs used: D McGarry (0-1) for Smith (27 mins), P McGoldrick (0-2, 0-2f) for Breslin (43), P Timoney for D McGarry (64), F Bannon for Mahon (66).
WARWICKSHIRE: M Cremin; R Wedel, D Neylon, N McNamee; C Brough (0-1), P Healy, K Boxwell; C Behan, M Bermingham (0-1); D Sheedy, J Bergin, K Courtney (1-1); E McCabe, C Maskey, M Ivors (1-2, 0-1f).
Subs used: D Maskey for Courtney (21-24 mins, blood sub), D Maskey for McCabe (41), B Griffith for Sheedy (53), S Brough for McNamee, J O'Dwyer for Bergin (both 66), J Boxwell for C Maskey (70).
Referee: Paud O'Dwyer (Carlow)
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