Fermanagh 3-26 Cavan 1-17
A 15-point win at Croke Park to clinch a second Lory Meagher Cup title was as satisfying as it was unexpected for Fermanagh supporters.
Beaten by Cavan in the group stage in early July, it looked as if Joe Baldwin’s side would be up against it to match their 2015 win at the grade.
They did admittedly encounter a slow start, falling behind after just 45 seconds and wincing as Cillian and Colum Sheanon, both club players with Cuala in Dublin, helped put Cavan three points clear.
But Fermanagh had a livewire forward in Tom Keenan, who struck 3-2 overall, and the first of his three goals just before half-time put them into a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Ernesiders led by 1-12 to 1-8 at the interval and surprisingly dominated the second half with two more Keenan goals arriving in the 36th and 50th minutes.
His second goal immediately after the restart laid the platform for a huge half of hurling from Fermanagh who outscored Cavan by 2-18 to 0-5 in an unlikely rout.
Fermanagh had 11 different scorers in total and rolled in their full allocation of subs with Andrew Breslin getting on the scoresheet after his late introduction.
FERMANAGH: M Curry; L McCusker, R Porteous, A Flanagan; R Bogue (0-1), B McAuley (0-2, two frees), F McBrien (0-1); D Teague (0-1), C McShea (0-4); K McGarry, S Corrigan (0-4), J Duffy (0-8, seven frees); C Duffy (0-1), M Slevin (0-1), T Keenan (3-2).
Subs: JP McGarry for K McGarry (13 mins), D Bannon for Slevin (45), T Cleary for JP McGarry (51), J Tormey for C Duffy (56), A Breslin (0-1) for Keenan (68).
CAVAN: D Sheridan; N Neary (0-1), D Crudden, S Briody; J Barry, A Sheridan (0-1), M Hynes; E Shalvey, M Moffett; D Carney, Colum Sheanon (0-1), B Fitzgerald (0-9, six frees, two 65s); Cillian Sheanon (0-3), S Keating (0-1), P Brady (1-0).
Subs: C Carney (0-1) for Moffett (30-h/t), Carney for Shalvey (h/t), B Nannery for Neary (47), K Conneely for D Carney (56), E Hill for Moffett (67).
Referee: M Kennedy (Tipperary).
