AIB Ulster Club SFC Quarter-Final

Derrygonnelly 1-16 Dromore 0-13

After extra-time

By Francis Mooney at Páirc Colmcille, Carrickmore

Derrygonnelly’s craft and calm helped them navigate choppy waters and carve out a convincing victory at Carrickmore to advance to the semi-finals of the Ulster Club SFC.

A man down for more than a quarter of the game, they refused to panic, and as Fermanagh champions for six of the last seven years, they hand banked the experience of provincial combat to see them past a Dromore side returning for the first time in a decade.

They managed to salvage a late equaliser to grab the lifeline of extra-time, and pushed for home with conviction as their opponents ran out of steam.

Conall Jones was the man with the magic touch, his long range free-kicking expertise helping his side over the line, and in particular the mighty conversion he landed from 45 metres into the teeth of a gale deep into stoppage time to send the game to the added stretch

Derrygonnelly’s defensive platform proved effective in a first half that saw their physically stronger team impose themselves on the contest.

After going ahead through Shane McGullion after just ten seconds, they dropped men back to frustrate their opponents, and Dromore had to work hard for the scores that Eoin McCusker and Emmet McNabb executed to push the Tyrone men ahead.

Gary McKenna’s score for the Harps had the sides level, but it was Dromore who led by 0-4 to 0-3 at the first water break, after McNabb had hit his third, this time a placed ball.

But the second quarter belonged to the Fermanagh men, empowered by the departure of McNabb, who went off injured, and the loss of the Tyrone Championship’s top scorer was a huge blow to their champions.

Inspirational long range scores from skipper Ryan Jones and experienced centre back Declan McCusker lifted the Derrygonnelly men even higher, and their well organised defensive unit held firm, although Odhran Rafferty did get in to bring a fine save from Jonathan McGurn.

Conalll Jones steered over a stoppage time free to send Derrygonnelly in with a 0-7 to 0-4 interval lead

Dromore got the wind in their backs and in their sails as they reeled off three scores, with McCusker bringing them level in the 43rd minute.

Gary McKenna had just regained the lead for Derrygonnelly when they lost defender Declan Cassidy to a second yellow card, but they closed ranks to squeeze their opponents, and hold on to the lead until the 59th minute, when defender Colm O’Neill brought Dromore level.

Andrew McGrath’s stoppage time score pushed the St Dympna’s into the lead, but Conall Jones rescued his side with the last kick of the game, a long range free into the wind to tie it up at 0-10 each.

And Jones bombed over three more missiles before being dismissed on a second booking. By then his job was done, and with Dromore also finishing on 14 men, following Colm O’Neill’s double yellow, Fermanagh had control.

They refused to allow their opponents a foothold as they defended a four points lead, and put the icing on the cake in added time as Stephen McGullion punched home the only goal of the game.

Derrygonnelly: J McGurn; A Jones, T Daly, M Jones; O Smyth, D Cassidy, A McKenna; S McGullion, R Jones; E McHugh, G Jones, L Jones, S McGullion, C Jones, G McKenna.

Subs: R McGovern for A McKenna (43), C Burns for L Jones (51), G McGovern for G Jones (56), N Maguire (61), L Jones for Smyth (66), S Gilroy for Shane McGullion (74), G Jones for G McKenna (76).

Dromore: M McGale; C O’Hara, P Teague (0-02, 1f), C O’Neill (0-01); P McHugh, R McCusker (0-01), N McCarron; O Rafferty, N Sludden; S McNabb, R McNabb snr, R McNabb jnr (0-02); E McNabb (0-03, 2f), T Sludden, E McCusker (0-02, 1f).

Subs: C Slevin for E McNabb (24), A McGrath (0-01) for T Sludden (39), C McCoy for Rafferty (41), C Goodwin (0-01) for McHugh (48), C MacRory for McCusker (59), T McCarron for Slevin (69).

Referee: M McNally.