Mannok Fermanagh SFC Final

Erne Gaels 1-21 Derrygonnelly 1-12

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Erne Gaels made it three Fermanagh Senior Football Championship titles in a row with a comprehensive 1-21 to 1-12 victory over Derrygonnelly Harps at Brewster Park.

Led by the superb Ultan Kelm, who finished the game with 1-7, Erne Gaels took control of the final from the outset and it required a late burst in the half by the Harps to keep them in touch at the interval as Erne Gaels led 1-9 to 0-6.

However, the Belleek side were able to keep a sizeable gap between the sides throughout the second half to deservedly retain the New York Cup.

Erne Gaels dictated matters from the start as Aogan Kelm, Dan McCann, Brian Mullin and an Ultan Kelm two pointer had them five points up by the end of the first quarter.

It got even better for the Belleek outfit when Ultan Kelm bagged the opening goal of the game soon after as he exchanged passes with the excellent Jack McCann on the left hand side before racing in on goal and planting a low shot to the corner of Jack Kelly’s goal.

It was all one way traffic at this stage as Kelm and Jack McCann tagged on points before Dan McCann fired over a fine two point score to make it 1-9 to no score with 29 minutes on the clock.

Derrygonnelly though gave themselves hope in the closing moments of the first half as they hit six quick points including a two point free from Kelly and a two pointer from play from the right hand side from Gary McKenna as well as points from McKenna and Oisin Smyth to leave six in it at the break.

The Harps would have hoped to build on that momentum at the start of the second half but Erne Gaels regained the upperhand as Jack McCann and Ultan Kelm landed points although Jarlath Flanagan replied with a two pointer for Derrygonnelly soon after his introduction.

Erne Gaels were able to find a response any time Derrygonnelly tried to come back at them and Aogan Kelm, Shane Mimna and Mullin added points to make it 1-14 to 0-8.

Rian McGovern and McKenna did tag on points for Derrygonnelly but again Erne Gaels answered through a two point free from Ultan Kelm and a Dan McCann point top stretch the lead out to ten, 1-17 to 0-10.

Derrygonnelly did grab a goal in the 51st minute through Michael Duffy and McKenna and Lee Jones knocked over points but Erne Gaels finished the game on top as Tommy McCaffrey, Ultan Kelm and Ultan O’Reilly all registered points to leave them comfortable nine point winners at the finish.

Scorers for Derrygonnelly: G McKenna 0-5 (1f), M Duffy 1-0, J Flanagan 0-2 (tp), J Kelly 0-2 (tpf), O Smyth 0-1, Rian McGovern 0-1, Lee Jones 0-1

Scorers for Erne Gaels: U Kelm 1-7 (1f, 1tpf, 1’45, 1tp), D McCann 0-4 (1tp), A Kelm 0-2, B Mullin 0-2, J McCann 0-2, T McCaffrey 0-2, S Mimna 0-1, U O’Reilly 0-1

DERRYGONNELLY: J Kelly; N Maguire, O Smyth, M Jones; R Smyth, Shane McGullion, R McHugh; Rian McGovern, Stephen McGullion; A Duffy, L Jones, S Gilroy; C Burns, Ronan McGovern, G McKenna. Subs: G McGovern for M Jones (18), RJ Duffy for Burns (25), J Flanagan for Ronan McGovern (35), Lee Jones for A Duffy (40), M Duffy for Gilroy (50)

ERNE GAELS: B Ryder; S Mimna, P Ward, U O’Reilly; O Kelm, J McCann, E Og Magee; R Lyons, B Mullin; T McCaffrey, U Kelm, O Johnston; D McCann, A Kelm, M Og McGarrigle. Subs: B McCann for Johnston (46), M Gilfedder for Mullin (59), L Ryder for D McCann (60), P McCaffrey for T McCaffrey (60)

Referee: Ollie McShea