A superb second half comeback from Antrim gave the Saffrons a memorable victory over a shell-shocked and wasteful Fermanagh side in a testy affair in Brewster Park.
There were some ugly scenes just after the final whistle as the Saffrons celebrated a brilliant smash and grab act in a game they seemed destined to lose for long periods
The home side led for 67 minutes but were undone by a well-finished goal from Antrim midfielder Cathal Hynds which put his side into a 1-10 to 0-11 lead.
Eoin Hynds stretched the lead to three points as Fermanagh mounted a late rally only to see Conor McShea's rasping shot hit the side netting.
But the real difference between the sides was the quality of the Saffron subs in the second half as Peter Healy, Dominic McEnhill, Conor Hand and Eoin Hynds hit 0-06 between them.
And Antrim outscored Fermanagh by 1-09 to 0-03 in the second period in the classic game of two halves.
After a turgid opening five minutes, a clever diagonal ball from Callum Jones found Sean Cassidy and the latter put Fermanagh into the lead.
They could have had a goal four minutes later when a lightning six-man move ended with Jones being one on one with Antrim keeper Michael Jones.
The wing-forward shot straight at the Saffron keeper but referee Brendan Griffin awarded Fermanagh a free and Cassidy converted.
A big physical Antrim team pressed repeatedly but were turned over easily by a well-organised defence who forced them into a total seven turnovers in the opening half.
At the other end, speed machine Ultan Kelm landed a fine point after narrowly missing a previous effort.
It took a sluggish looking Antrim 15 minutes to get their first score when keeper Byrne landed a 45 after Erne keeper Sean McNally punched a high ball over the line.
Kelm tacked on another fine point after yet another turnover and Jones converted a free-before Antrim corner forward Ryan McQuillan got his side’s second and last point of the half.
But Fermanagh were by far the more composed side as a touchline fracas erupted with players and officials from both sides involved, which resulted in an Antrim free that went wide to a big cheer from the large home crowd.
The home side were well in control and added on three more points - a great effort from team captain Declan McCusker and two more points from Cassidy and the lively Fionan O’Brien to put them into a 0-08 to 0-02 lead at the break.
It got even better for the home side on the resumption as Ronan McCaffrey made it 0-09 to 0-02 for Fermanagh.
But they could only add on two more points in the second half as Peter Healy, Dominic McEnhill and Conor Hand came on to telling effect.
Healy was quickly on target as Declan McCusker, Callum Jones and Conor McShea missed two easy chances.
Antrim were growing into the game as keeper Byrne landed another 45 for the visitors to leave Fermanagh leading by 0-09 to 0-04.
Joe McDade made it 0-10 to 0-04 for the home side but this was quickly negated by two points from McEnhill and another converted 45 from Byrne.
Fermanagh sub Garvan Jones made it 0-11 to 0-07 for an increasingly shaky looking Fermanagh.
Eoin Hynds and Healy made it 0-11 to 0-09 as the whole momentum was with Antrim as a Paddy McBride free made it 0-11 to 0-10 before Hynds struck for that killer goal.
Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Lee Cullen, Che Cullen, Jonathan Cassidy; Declan McCusker (0-01), Shane McGullion, Josh Largo Ellis; Brandon Horan, Joe McDade (0-01); Callum Jones (0-01f) Conor McShea, Fionan O’Brien (0-01); Ultan Kelm (0-02), Ronan McCaffrey (0-01). Sean Cassidy (0-3, 2f).
Subs; Darragh McGurn for Shane McGullion (50), Garvan Jones (0-01) for Callum Jones and Conor Love for Sean Cassidy (55)
Antrim: Michael Byrne (0-03, 45); Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; James McDonnell Joseph Flanagan, Dermot McAleese; Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds (1-00); Colm McLarnon, Patrick McBride (0-01), Ruairi McCann; Ryan McQuillan (0-01), Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan.
Subs: Peter Healy (0-02) for Declan Lynch, Dominic McEnhill (0-01) for Ryan McQuillan (42), Conor Hand (0-01) for Colm McLarnon (42). Eoin Hynds (0-2) for Patrick McAleer (49)
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
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