Fermanagh SFC Final: Dramatic encounter finishes level

Fermanagh SFC Final

Derrygonnelly Harps 0-20 Erne Gaels 2-14

By Gareth Cauldwell at Brewster Park

Derrygonnelly Harps and Erne Gaels will have to do it all over again next weekend as the Mannok Fermanagh SFC Final ended in a draw at Brewster Park on Saturday evening.

In a thrilling encounter, 14-man Derrygonnelly, who had Rian McGovern sent off after 11 minutes, led by five points with five minutes to play, but holders Erne Gaels displayed great resilience to rally late on to ensure that the sides meet again to decide the destination of the New York Cup.

Derrygonnelly began the contest in a lively fashion as two points from Rian McGovern and a score from Jarlath Flanagan pushed them into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after four minutes.

Erne Gaels registered their first score of the night through midfielder Brian Mullin, but a third McGovern point put the Harps three ahead again with 10 minutes played.

However, Erne Gaels responded with a superb Aogan Kelm goal, his rocket of a shot crashing to the top corner of the net to level up matters.

It was a double blow for the Harps as McGovern was sent off following an off-the-ball incident straight after the goal to leave his side down to 14 men for the remainder of the tie.

Gary McKenna did nudge Derrygonnelly back ahead, but points from Mullin and Barry McCann put Declan Bonner’s Erne Gaels ahead for the first time, 1-3 to 0-5.

Derrygonnelly though settled back to the task, and they went on to make light of the numerical disadvantage over the rest of the half. The impressive McKenna rattled over two fine two pointers in the space of a minute while Conall Rasdale converted a free to put them four ahead, 0-10 to 1-3.

Indeed, it could have been even better for Derrygonnelly as Leigh Jones burst through, but his effort crashed off the crossbar.

Ryan Lyons knocked over a point for the Belleek men late in the half, but at the break they trailed by three.

The gap was back to one early in the second half as Ultan Kelm and Shane Rooney tagged on points, but the Harps replied with points from Rory Smyth and a McKenna free.

The second half was end-to-end as substitute Seamus Ryder landed for Erne Gaels only for Shane McGullion to reply for Derrygonnelly as the contest moved into the final quarter.

Aogan Kelm was then denied by Harps goalkeeper Jack Kelly who saved well down low to his left and Derrygonnelly broke down the other end to win a free which McKenna converted to make it 0-14 to 1-8.

Ryan Lyons quickly cut the gap back to the minimum when he rifled over a two pointer, but Derrygonnelly hit straight back with a two pointer of their own from teenager Michael Duffy.

Thomas McCaffrey and Jarlath Flanagan again traded points for the sides, but when Derrygonnelly goalkeeper Jack Kelly drilled over a free they finally appeared to have shaken off Erne Gaels as they moved into a 0-19 to 1-11 lead with five minutes left on the clock.

There was still time for more drama though as Erne Gaels went down the other end and Paul Ward palmed in at the back post following a good move to breath life back into their challenge.

Lyons followed up with a point to leave one in it as the momentum appeared to have shifted in Erne Gaels favour.

A McKenna free nudged Derrygonnelly back two ahead, but in added on time Shane Rooney and Seamus Ryder converted frees for Erne Gaels to leave the sides needing to do it all over again.

Scorers for Derrygonnelly Harps: G McKenna 0-8 (2tp, 3fs), R McGovern 0-3, J Flanagan 0-2t, J Kelly 0-2 (f), M Duffy 0-2 (tp), Shane McGullion 0-1, C Rasdale 0-1 (f), R Smyth 0-1

Scorers for Erne Gaels: R Lyons 0-4 (tp), A Kelm 1-0, P Ward 1-0, B Mullin 0-2, S Rooney 0-2 (1f), B McCann 0-2, S Ryder 0-2 (1f), U Kelm 0-1, T McCaffrey 0-1

Derrygonnelly Harps: J Kelly; A Jones, O Smyth, M Jones; R McGovern, Shane McGullion, R McHugh; J Flanagan, Stephen McGullion; G McGovern, L Jones, A McKenna; C Rasdale, R Smyth, G McKenna

Subs: A Duffy for A McKenna (23), C Burns for Smyth (45), M Duffy for McHugh (45), E McHugh for Rasdale (51).

Erne Gaels: B Ryder; P Ward, J McCann, U O’Reilly; O Kelm, R Lyons, O Johnston; M Og McGarrigle, B Mullin; D McCann, T McCaffrey, A Kelm; S Rooney, U Kelm, B McCann

Subs: S Ryder for D McCann (39), M Gilfeddar for Johnston (42).

Referee: B Monaghan.