Down do enough to reach Tailteann Cup final

Down 2-19 Fermanagh 1-21

Down will take on Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup decider following their respective wins at Croke Park today. Down withstood a second half comeback from Fermanagh while Wicklow came back from the dead to defeat Offaly.

First half goals from Eamon Brown and Pat Havern had the Mourne men seven clear at the half time interval, 2-13 to 1-9, with Mattie McDermott rattling the net for Fermanagh.

The Erne County kicked the first five scores of the second half, including an Ultan Kelm two-pointer, to bring them right back into the contest after the turnaround.

Shocks of the summer

Miceal Rooney swapped scores with Kelm while Callum Rogers and Caolan Mooney saw their efforts cancelled out by another two-pointer, from Conor Love this time.

Fermanagh got back on level terms with a Ciaran Corrigan point, but Mooney nudged Down, who won the Tailteann Cup two years ago, back ahead.

Ronan McCaffrey tied things up with extra time looming, but Conor Laverty’s men had one final say and that was through Ryan McEvoy, who fired over a late score to come through the all-Ulster semi-final showdown.