Goals win matches as Fermanagh showed as they picked up two precious points against wasteful Kildare at Brewster Park, winning by four points in their Allianz League Division 2 clash..
And the first one had an element of good fortune as a high lob from Erne wing-back Declan McCusker looked to be in Kildare keeper Mark Donnellan's grasp-but the ball seemed to slip out of keeper's hands to the net in the 27th minute which put them into a 1-7 to 0-4 lead.
And Sean Cassidy rounded off a fine move by netting Fermanagh’s second goal in the 62nd minute to seal victory.
But there was late drama when Kildare were awarded a penalty after Fermanagh midfielder Joe McDade was ruled to have made a foot block but the spot kick from Kildare’s Kevin Feely was brilliantly saved by Erne keeper Ross Bogue.
Fermanagh were quickly off the mark after an eight man move that saw Lee Cullen point from an acute angle.
Kildare responded with a pointed from keeper Mark Donnellan in a very evenly contested affair.
Garvan Jones put the home side back in front from a pointed free-but they were showing indiscipline in defence as Jimmy Hyland levelled matters with another pointed free for the Lily Whites.
Che Cullen drilled over a great point for Fermanagh from the sideline but another conceded free was punished by Kildare’s Paddy Woodgate as the game moved into the second quarter.
Fermanagh went back in front through another point from a tight angle from Sean Cassidy as Kildare wing back Brian Byrne was black-carded.
Garvan Jones from a free and Ronan McCaffrey swapped points with Kildare’s Jimmy Hyland who got his side’s last point of the half.
But, the home side had a huge slice of luck when Declan McCusker’s high lob was fumbled over the line by Kildare keeper Donnellan in the 26th minute- but the Erne side centre back Stephen McGullion to a black card-as they led by six at the break.
Klldare were much better on the resumption and Paddy Woodgate had their first point from play and this was added to by a 45 conversion from keeper Donnellan to leave four points between the sides.
Ultan Kelm landed a free for the home side and added another from play.
But it was Kildare who had the momentum with the pace of Alex Beirne causing the home side problems.
And points from Mick O’Grady and Ben McCormack left just a goal between the sides as the Erne side led by by 1-10 to 0-10 after 58 minutes.
But Fermanagh hit their second clinching goal after a five man move opened up the Kildare defence and Cassidy slipped the ball to the empty net.
Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen (0-1) Che Cullen (0-1), Oisin Smyth; Declan McCusker (1-1), Shane McGullion, Josh Largo Ellis (0-1); Brandon Horan, Joe McDade; Conor McGee, Ronan McCafffrey (0-1) Conor McShea; Ultan Kelm (0-21f) Garvan Jones (0-2f), Sean Cassidy (1-1).
Subs; John Reihill for Declan McCusker, Diarmuid King for Sean Cassidy and Tiarnan Bogue for Conor McGee (68).
Kildare: Mark Donnellan (0-2f); Mick O'Grady (0-1) Shea Ryan, Ryan Burke; Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely, Kevin O’Callaghan (0-1); Alex Beirne, Ben McCormack (0-2) Aaron O’Neill; Paddy Woodgate (0-21,f) Shane O’Sullivan, Jimmy Hyland. (0-4f)
Subs; Luke Killian for Aaron O’Neill, Ryan Houlihan ( for Brian Byrne (h-time), Callum Bolton for Ryan Houlihan (49), Aaron Masterson for Paddy Woodgate and Paddy McDermott for Eoin Doyle (67)
Referee: S Mulhare (Laois)
