Down produced a dazzling late comeback to break Fermanagh hearts in a magnificent game of football at Brewster Park.
Down were seven points behind as a rampant, Fermanagh, spurred by man of the match Conor Love led by 0-21 to 0-14 eight minutes from time.
But a superb two pointer from Down's Daniel Guinness and he followed that with goal in two minutes and Ryan McEvoy hit a late goal to seal a memorable comeback. Fermanagh were shell-shocked as Down celebrated a superb Lazarus Act in a game studded with some superb scores.
But Fermanagh will rue ten wides and four goal chances that were brilliantly saved by Down keeper Ronan Burns.
They played superb football for 25 minutes of the second half, but were just not able to stem the rising Down tide in those final frenetic moments.
Fermanagh had an explosive opening and Darragh McGurn’s shot bounced over the bar via the crossbar after 50 seconds.
They had a chance of a goal 15 seconds later but Garvan Jone’s rasper was brilliantly saved by Down keeper Ronan Burns for a 45 which Erne keeper Sean McNally converted.
Down responded in the third minute with a well struck point from Odhran Murdock.
Fermanagh were punished for an illegal back-pass and Pat Havern pointed the resultant free.
Danny Magill put them in front, and this was cancelled by another Jones point.
But the home side levelled through Garvan Jones.
They could have had a goal in the 4th minute-only for Ronan Burns to make the first of four great saves at the expense of a 45 which Erne keeper Sean McNally converted.
Eugene Branagan levelled for Down as Burns made another great save from Ryan Lyons.
Darragh McGurn and Branagan exchanged points before Down hit six points in a blistering eight minute spell to sprint into a 0-10 to 0-5 lead thanks to points from Daniel Guinness, Murdock, Ceilum Doherty, a 45 from Burns and a point from Danny Magill to put them into a 0-10 to 0-05 lead.
They almost had a goal too as it took a brilliant double block from Erne keeper McNally and Che Cullen to deny Murdock a certain goal.
Down’s Pierce Laverty picked up a black card as Fionan O’Brien pointed a free for Fermanagh
Jones and Josh Largo Ellis made it a two- point game but a John McGeough point saw Down leading by 0-11 to 0-08 at the break.
Daniel Guinness increased Down’s lead to four points on the restart but Fermanagh came back like a whirlwind.
Joe McDade had a great chance of a goal but Burns saved superbly again before two Jones frees and a Lyons point cut down Down’s lead to the minimum.
It was then that Conor Love hit three on the trot to level matters for the home side and he put Fermanagh ahead on a score of 0-14 to 0-13.
It was all Fermanagh as Lee Cullen hit the point of the match from the side-line and Jones made it Fermanagh 0-17 to 0-13 by the 50th minute.
Johnny Cassidy pointed, and Love added two more beauties to put Fermanagh into a 0-20 to 0-13 lead as Down sub Shay Millar and Fermanagh sub Ronan McCaffrey left it a seven point game eight minutes from time.
It looked like it was the home side were heading for their first championship win since 2018-until Ryan McEvoy pointed and Daniel Guinness hit a soaring two pointer.
This was the crucial score as a rampant Down ran at the Fermanagh defence with Daniel Guinness blasting home a goal to leave just two points between the sides.
Down had the momentum and two points from Pat Havern tied the game.
But Ryan McEvoy blasted home another goal to seal a great victory as Fermanagh could only reply with a Jonny Cassidy point.
Fermanagh: Sean McNally (0-03,45s); Che Cullen Lee Cullen (0-02tp) Oisin Smyth; Jonny Cassidy (0-02), Declan McCusker (0-01) Fionan O’Brien (0-01); Joe McDade, Darragh McGurn (0-01); Conor McGee, Ryan Lyons (0-01) Paul Breen; Josh Largo Ellis (0-01) Garvan Jones (0-06,1f), Conor Love (0-04).
Subs: Shane McGullion for Paul Breen (14), Ronan McCafffey (0-01) for Ryan Lyons (52), Sean Cassidy for Conor McGee (58)
Down: Ronan Burns (0-01,45); Patrick McCarthy, Peter Fegan, Ceilum Doherty (0-01); Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Micheal Rooney; Daniel Guinness (1-03,1tp), Ryan McEvoy (1-02); Danny Magill (0-02) Odhran Murdock (0-03) Eugene Branagan (0-02); James Guinness, Pat Havern (0-04 3f) John McGeough (26).
Subs: Aaron McClements for Micheal Rooney (49), Shay Millar (0-01) for Danny Magill (50), Caolan Mooney for Eugene Branagan (51), Conor McCrickard for Jame Guinness (53), Patrick Brooks for John McGeough (61).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
