Fermanagh's Ultan Kelm had a dream return to action for his county as his goal in the 70th minute proved to be the difference between the sides in a tight and competitive Tailteann Cup first round clash.
A recurrent hip injury cost Kelm his planned season in the AFL, and also meant that he didn’t feature in any competitive Fermanagh games until today, when he was a late introduction to the starting team.
Kieran Donnelly’s faith in the Erne Gaels player was rewarded with a solid and purposeful attacking performance, but the cherry was placed on top of the cake when a typically incisive run in the last minute of normal time cut open the Longford defence, and set him up to slip a low finish underneath Paddy Collum to put his team four points up.
Ryan Jones followed Kelm’s goal with a towering point off the outside of the right boot, his fourth of the game, and while Longford narrowed the gap through a late Darren Gallagher free and a Fergal Sheridan score, they never looked like testing Seán McNally in the Fermanagh goal.
The story of the game was that of Fermanagh finding their way into the contest, all while Longford lost theirs.
In the opening minutes the home side looked to run the ball hard and direct through the middle of the Fermanagh defence, and the tactic bore fruit in the form of three points in the first seven minutes.
The impressive Keelin McGann clipped one over at the end of a good run and two Darren Gallagher frees were added, both created by powerful runs down the central channel that forced Fermanagh fouls.
Ciarán Corrigan settled the Erne men with a point in the ninth minute, and while Longford were still comfortable at 0-05 to 0-02 in front after 20 minutes, by now they had lost their attacking fluidity as both sides struggled to break down massed defences.
The closing stages of the first half proved crucial to Fermanagh, as they overcame the loss of Conall Jones to a black card and still got to the interval well in contention, 0-06 to 0-04 in arrears.
Another outstanding run and finish from McGann could have rattled the net but instead fizzed inches over the bar for the first score of the second half, but with Jones back on the field, Fermanagh settled about their work and started to take control.
Daragh McGurn and Joe McDade made some superb catches at midfield, Seán Quigley knocked over a brace of frees, and in the 46th minute they took their first lead through a Conall Jones point that was disputed, but ultimately awarded when referee Jerome Henry over-ruled his umpires.
McGurn added to that lead before Longford came back into the game, inspired by substitute Mark Hughes, who kicked two excellent points.
However they were unable to hit the front and with extra-time looming and Fermanagh back in front by the bare minimum, a powerful run and exchange of passes left Kelm clean through on goal with just the keeper to beat, and he duly delivered the precise low finish that made his long rehabilitation seem worth all the effort.
Fermanagh: Seán McNally; Luke Flanagan, Garrett Kavanagh, Jonny Cassidy; Aidan Breen, Declan McCusker, James McMahon; Ryan Jones (0-04), Joe McDade; Ultan Kelm (1-01), Conall Jones (0-01), Josh Largo Ellis; Ciarán Corrigan (0-01), Daragh McGurn (0-01), Seán Quigley (0-04 frees).
Subs: Oisín Kelm for McMahon h-t, Lorcan McStravick for Corrigan 59, Garvin Jones for U Kelm 70+2, Kane Connor for Breen 70+3
Longford: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, James Moran; Ryan Moffett (0-01), Michael Quinn, Barry O'Farrell; Darren Gallagher (0-05 frees), Kevin Diffley (0-01); Keelin McGann (0-02), Darragh Doherty, Dessie Reynolds; Iarla O’Sullivan, Daniel Reynolds, Jack Duggan.
Subs: Jordan Shiels for O’Sullivan 28, Jayson Matthews for Duggan h-t, Mark Hughes (0-02) for Doherty 49, Eoghan McCormack for Daniel Reynolds 59, Fergal Sheridan (0-01) for Diffley 70
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
