Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh) 1-17 Gowna (Cavan) 2-14 AET
Gaels win 5-3 on pens
Enniskillen Gaels sealed their place in the last four of the Ulster Club SFC with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Cavan champions Gowna in Brewster Park on Saturday night.
In an absorbing contest, Enniskillen had never been behind until Cian Madden's free two minutes into added on time at the end of normal time.
However, a superb long range free from Enniskillen’s Eoin Beacom ensured that the game went to extra time.
And after Gowna had raced into a three-point lead in the first period of extra time, Enniskillen dug in and two Conor Love points sent he tie to a shoot-out.
As it happened, Enniskillen were flawless from the spot as they fired home their first four kicks while goalkeeper Cian Newman saved from Cian Madden.
And it was left to Ciaran Smith to fire home the decisive spot kick as Enniskillen progressed to the final four.
The home side had looked lively in the early stages and by the end of the first quarter they had forged a four-point lead thanks to Callum Jones’ well finished goal.
However, Gowna looked threatening themselves and TJ Fitzpatrick arrowed to the net before Robbie Fitzpatrick then palmed home after good work by Cian Madden to leave it 1-05 to 2-02 after 22 minutes.
Enniskillen though regained the initiative before the break as Richard O’Callaghan, Conor Watson and John Reihill tossed over points to help them into a 1-08 to 2-03 half time advantage.
Conor Casey registered the opening score of the second half for Gowna but the impressive Jones and Love replied for Enniskillen as they moved three clear.
Gowna though started to get a greater footing and Cian Madden clipped over two frees while Conor Madden knocked over from play to level up matters in the 47th minute.
Love and Tiarnan Madden then swapped points and as tempers frayed both sides were reduced to 14 as Enniskillen Jones’ and Gowna’s Conor Madden were red carded.
Love did edge Enniskillen back ahead but when Robbie Fitzpatrick and Cian Madden tagged on points for Gowna it put them in front for the first time in the contest.
Up though popped Beacom with his super strike as the tie went to extra time.
Three points in the first four minutes of extra time from Madden (2) and Casey seemed to have put Gowna on the way to victory but Enniskillen showed character to hit back in the second period and with Ethan Beresford and Love (2) on target it sent the contest to penalties.
Enniskillen: C Newman; P Reihill, A Nolan, J Ferguson; J Horan, J Cassidy, C Watson 0-01; B Horan, R O’Callaghan 0-01; N McDermott, C Jones 1-02, C McShea; C Love 0-07 (2f), R McDonnell, J Reihill 0-04 (2f)
Subs: C Quinn for McDermott, C Smyth for Watson, E Beacom 0-01f for P Reihill, E Beresford 0-01 for J Reihill
Gowna: R Bannon; Cormac Brady, R Brady, R McGahern; F Brady, Conor Brady, M McKeever 0-01; R Fitzpatrick 1-02, R Donohue; Cian Madden 0-05f, A Brady, T Madden 0-01 (1f); C Casey 0-02, Conor Madden 0-02 (1m), TJ Fitzpatrick 1-00
Subs: D Madden 0-01 for TJ Fitzpatrick, O Pierson for A Brady, R Keogh for R Fitzpatrick
Referee: N McKenna (Monaghan)
In the Connacht SFC quarter-final, Leitrim champions St Mary's Kiltoghert held off Londoner's St Kiernan's at Ruislip on a scoreline of 3-08 to 1-08.
St Mary's will now meet Tourlestrane of Sligo in next weekend's semi-final stage.
