Fermanagh hung on for a vital victory after a controversial finish in an exciting affair in challenging conditions in a cliched game of two halves in Ederney.
With time almost up, and Offaly pressing for an equaliser in the 73rd minute Offaly corner back Rory seemed to be fouled as Fermanagh led by 1-13 to 3-06.
Referee Kevin Faloon deemed no foul had been committed and then blew for full time-to the disgust of Offaly as the Ernesiders gained their second victory by the minimum margin.
On the other hand, Fermanagh had a clear point waved wide in the second half
Youthful Offaly staged an heroic second half comeback after trailing by 1-10 to 1-01 at the break playing with a strong breeze.
But torrential rain at the break seemed to spur Offaly and two early goals changed the complexion of the game completely.
For a speedy Offaly side were causing Fermanagh all sorts of problems as the home side could only hit three points in the second half and hit four bad wides in a wind assisted second half.
Fermanagh had a whirlwind start when veteran captain Declan McCusker powered his way through the Offaly defence and slid the ball low to the net after 20 seconds.
But this was quickly cancelled when a lightning move ended with Cillian Bourke goaling for the Faithful County.
However, that was as good as it got for Mickey Harte's young men as the home side took over in midfield and hit some stunning scores into the stiff biting breeze.
The outstanding Darragh McGurn lofted over a great point, and this was quickly followed by a similar effort from the speedy Josh Largo Ellis to put the Ernesiders into a 1-02 to 1-00 lead after.
Ryan Lyons finished a fine move with a punched point which could have been a goal and marksmn Garvan Jones punished an Offaly refusal to hand the ball back with a pointed 20 metre free.
The home side were on top in all areas as Offaly keeper Paddy Dunican converted a 45 for the Leinster men.
But there was no stopping the home side as McCusker landed a long- range effort and Garvan Jones (0-2) and Conor Love made it 1-8 to 1-1 by the 30th minute.
A McGurn rasper went across the Offaly goal and wide as Love and Lyons completed the scoring.
But the second half was a completely different story as Offaly were a transformed team.
They were awarded a penalty when Erne midfielder Oisin Smyth was ruled to have made a foot block.
Jack Bryant’s blasted penalty was brilliantly saved by keeper Sean McNally but Dylan Hyland scrambled the rebound to the Fermanagh net.
Ronan McCaffrey responded with a point for Fermanagh who were looking much less assured.
Keith O’Neill pointed a free for an increasingly confident Offaly and the impressive Cormac Egan finished off a fine move with a goal slash the lead to just four points.
A rejuvenated Offaly had all the momentum as their direct running had the Erne defence in bother.
O’Neill landed another point for Offaly as did Cathal Flynn.
And there was only a point between the teams when Dylan Hyland pointed as Fermanagh led by 1-12 to 3-05.
The home side got a close in free after an Offaly player was ruled to have strayed outside his own half leaving just two players behind him.
Jones pointed the free, but O’Neill left the minimum margin between the sides in a frenetic finish.
But, the Ernesiders clung on for two precious points.
Fermanagh: Sean MacNally, Lee Cullen, Che Cullen, Fionan O’Brien; Jonny Cassidy, Declan McCusker (1-01), Ronan McCaffrey (0-01); Oisin Smyth (0-01) Darragh McGurn (0-02); Shane McGullion, Ryan Lyons(0-01) Paul Breen; Josh Largo Ellis (0-01), Garvan Jones (0-04, 2f) Conor Love (0-02).
Subs: Brandon Horan for Darragh McGurn (46), Oisin Murphy for Ryan Lyons (54) Conor McGee for Shane McGullion (57).
Offaly: Paddy Dunican (0-01, 145); Lee Pearson, Shane O’Toole, Rory Egan; Aidan Bracken, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; (1-00) Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Cillian Bourke (1-00), Cathal Flynn (0-01), Keith O’Neill (0-03, 3f); Dylan Hyland (1-01), Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney.
Subs: Nigel Dunne for Jack Bryant (48), Daire McDaid for Shane O’Toole (52), Kyle Higgins for Cillian Bourke (54).
Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)
