Erne Gaels 1-12 Derrygonnelly Harps 1-09
Erne Gaels hung on to retain their Fermanagh county title after a magnificent battle with wasteful Derrygonnelly in Brewster Park.
And five star displays from their county men Ultan Kelm and team captain Ryan Lyons were key to this victory.
The winners dominated the first half and led by 1-09 to 0-04 at the break spurred by a great goal from Ultan Kelm and some super points from Oisin Kelm.
They lost Tommy McCaffrey to a black card just before half time and the Harps stormed back with a Leigh Jones goal in the third quarter as they took over.
Erne Gaels could only hit three points in the entire second half but Derryonnelly hit seven wides and hit the post on two occasions.
And they also missed four great chances of goals and will feel they left it behind them.
But the Gaels dug deep and held on for a memorable victory.
Derryonnelly had a whirlwind start and Gary McKenna arced over a fine point after 49 seconds.
The Harps were in complete control and Shane McGullion added another point by the fourth minute.
But Belleek's Oisin Kelm cut through the Harps defence and found Tommy McCaffrey who was fouled, and Barry McCann pointed the resultant free.
And, then the game changed utterly in the eighth minute when a mis hit Barry McCann shot found the in form Ultan Kelm who blasted the ball to the Harps net.
That set the pattern for a torrent of scores from the county champions.
The outstanding Oisin Kelm hit a great left footed point and Jack McCann fisted over another point and Ultan Kelm made it 1-5 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.
Conall Rasdale hit a pointed free for the Harps, their first score in almost 20 minutes to stem the irrepressible Gaels tide.
Aidan McKenna hit a fine point for the Harps and then they had two great goaling chances, but Gaels keeper Brian Ryder saved at Rory Smyth’s feet and another screamer hit the crossbar and Oisin Smyth’s shot hit off the crossbar.
The Gaels underlined their superiority coming up to the break with a fantastic two- pointer with the outside out of the boot as they led by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break.
Erne Gaels had the first score of the second half when Shane Rooney pointed a free.
But the Harps began to make full use of the extra man and threw on Conor Burns and Michael Duffy who had an immediate effect.
Harps veteran Mickey Jones began the revival with a monster point from the wing.
But the luckless Harps got the rub of the green when Belleek’s Jack McCann seemed to be fouled and from the turnover Leigh Jones rattled the net in the 36th minute.
It was all the Harps and a Gary McKenna free made it Erne Gaels 1-10 Derryonnelly 1-8.
The Harps were in command but hit eight bad wides in a frenetic second half.
And they could only manage one more point from Leigh Jones as Belleek sub Seamus Ryder and Aogan Kelm closed out the scoring.
Erne Gaels: Brian Ryder; Paul Ward, Jack McCann (0-01), Ultan O’Reilly; Oisin Kelm (0-03), Ryan Lyons, Odhran Johnston; Michael Óg McGarrigle, Brian Mullan; Shane Mimnagh, Thomas McCaffrey, Aogan Kelm (0-01); Shane Rooney (0-02,1f), Ultan Kelm (1-03), Barry McCann (0-01, 1f).
Subs used: S Ryder (0-01) for O Johnston (46), M Gilfedder for Mimnagh (53), D McCann for Rooney (60).
Derrygonnelly: Jack Kelly; Aaron Jones, Oisin Smyth, Michael Jones (0-01), Rian McGovern, Shane McGullion (0-01), Ronan McHugh; Jarlath Flanagan, Stephen McGullion (0-02, 1tp); Gareth McGovern, Leigh Jones (1-01) Aidan McKenna; Conall Rasdale (0-01, 1f), Rory Smyth, Gary McKenna (0-03, 3f).
Subs used: C Burns for McHugh (38), M Duffy for Rasdale (38), S Gilroy for McKenna (43), N Maguire for McGullion (57).
Referee: James Lewis
