Fermanagh outclassed by Premier League opposition
Manchester Utd 4 Co. Fermanagh 0
2024 Supercupni Premier Section
COUNTY Fermanagh put in a battling performance but ultimately went down 4-0 to Manchester United in the opening game of their Super Cup NI campaign.
Fermanagh’s forays into the United penalty area were rare, but they worked tirelessly in defence against an impressive side, with only two injury-time goals taking the shine off the scoreline.
From the first whistle, the game settled into a pattern of United possession, with Fermanagh organised and disciplined as they harried and hassled United.
The Premier League side were consistently looking to utilise the pace and trickery of captain Bendito Mantato on the right wing, and the captain won a corner after seven minutes, but Fermanagh survived the ensuing scramble thanks to a goal-line clearance before Oisin Keenan deflected United’s follow up over the crossbar.
It was only a temporary reprieve for the Ernemen however as United took the lead after 10 minutes through Douka Abdoulaye, who collected a cross-field pass and cut inside the defender before firing low into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.
Abdoulaye then had a longrange shot saved by Patrick O’sullivan, but for all of United’s possession, O’sullivan was relatively untroubled in the first half with Oscar Timlin and Shay Mccarney doubling up to counter the threat down the right wing.
Fermanagh carved out a chance of their own after 27 minutes when Aaron Ellis looked to have outpaced the Red Devils’ centre-back, but the defender produced a great recovery tackle to deny Ellis a shot at goal.
Moments later, Fermanagh’s Bruce Lennox won possession in midfield and found Ben Mccaughey.
The right-back released Fionn Stroud down the wing, but his cross was just over the head of Mccarney.
In the first minute of the second half, United broke through centrally, but O’sullivan was quickly off his line to smother the shot and the follow-up was blasted wide of the post.
United then fired over and O’sullivan saved a long-range effort comfortably before Keenan produced a perfectly timed tackle at full stretch to deny another goal-scoring opportunity.
The pressure was building on Fermanagh and Eoghan Mcardle produced a superb block to deflect a shot over before United added a second goal after 55 minutes.
16-year-old Mantato, who has already featured for United’s U18 Premier League team, collected the ball after an aerial challenge and burst through a tackle before slotting past the keeper.
Fermanagh made a host of changes in the last quarter of the game as legs tired.
Substitute goalkeeper Tadhg Kernaghan saved a shot from the edge of the area, but as the game entered added time he was helpless to prevent a third as a United substitute Ibrovic-fletcher curled a shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Mantato scored his second of the night with the final kick of the game to give the Premier League side a four-goal victory.