Late drama as Erne Gaels win
Erne Gaels 1-07 Kinawley 1-06
THERE was late drama in Derrygonnelly on Sunday evening as Erne Gaels booked their place in the final of the Mannok Fermanagh SFC Final with a 1-07 to 1-06 victory over Kinawley.
The Brian Borus led by two points with the game deep in added on time when a long ball in on top of the Kinawley goal saw Dan Mccann claim possession and he was pulled to the ground with referee Barry Monaghan awarding the Belleek side a penalty.
However, Kinawley were incensed that a hop ball was not awarded in the lead up to the penalty as they felt that the ball came off the referee, deflecting it away from a Kinawley player prior to the long ball being sent in from which the penalty was given.
The official though stuck with his decision and Shane Rooney remained the calmest man in the ground as he stepped up to slot his spot kick to the corner of the net to put Erne Gaels a point ahead.
Kinawley did have one last play to try and engineer a score but Ruairi Corrigan’s effort dropped wide as Erne Gaels advanced to a final meeting with Enniskillen on Sunday October 23.
Underfoot conditions proved difficult for both sides after heavy rain while Erne Gaels had the advantage of the breeze in the first half.
And it was the Belleek outfit who landed the opening score of the contest as Barry Mccann fired over although Kinawley answered through Tomas Corrigan following a patient build up by the Brian Borus.
However, Erne Gaels began to get on top after this as they took a stranglehold around the middle third.
Ryan Lyons flicked over a Tommy Mccaffrey shot that dropped short although Lyons also hit three wide after this as Erne Gaels looked to extend their advantage.
And three points on the bounce from Aoghan Kelm did just that for Seamus Ryder’s side as they moved into a 0-05 to 0-01 lead.
Kelm knocked over a free from an acute angle before then adding a fine point from play. Ultan Kelm powered forward after turning over possession and he popped the ball into brother Aoghan who turned and slotted over.
Kelm then converted a close in free after Barry Mccann was fouled by Niall Bogue who picked up an injury in the challenge that saw him withdrawn at half time.
Leading 0-05 to 0-01, Erne Gaels looked to be in control but Kinawley were right back in the contest five minutes before the interval when they hit the back of the Erne Gaels net.
Tomas Corrigan’s free from the right dropped short but it was met by Paul Breen who flicked it on and it struck of Belleek defender Colm Keown’s arm and nestled in the net to leave one between them at the break, 0-05 to 1-01.
With the wind at their backs for the second half, Kinawley would have felt that they were in a good place at the break.
They did though kick a couple of early wides in the second half through Liam Owens and Eoghan Mcmanus but with 41 minutes played they were back on level terms.
Sean Mcmanus won possession in the middle of the park and played in Lorcan Mckenna who blazed over when he had a chance of a goal.
Aoghan Kelm replied for Erne Gaels as he nudged them back on front from a free after a foul on Jack Mccann.
Kinawley though were starting to get on top but they failed to convert a number of chances with Tomas Corrigan, Mckenna, Shaun Doherty and Paddy Mcgovern among those guilty.
However, Sean Mcmanus and Aaron O’reilly combined to tee up Mckenna for the equaliser although again Erne Gaels found a response with Ultan Kelm firing over from range to make it 0-07 to 1-03.
The Brian Borus pressure though was beginning to tell and Corrigan landed a free from the right before O’reilly put Kinawley ahead for the first time after good work by Daire O’cathain and Doherty.
And with the game in added on time it seemed as if the Brian Borus were on their way to the final as Corrigan converted a free that was moved forward to put two between the sides, 1-06 to 0-07.
At this stage, Erne Gaels were struggling to make an impact in the attacking end of the pitch and there looked little way back for them but then came the dramatic conclusion and that passage of play that led to the penalty.
Tempers became frayed following the decision and Kinawley were reduced to 14 as Mckenna was given his marching orders.
It meant that Rooney was left waiting to hit the spot kick but he remained composed and he clinically dispatched the penalty to the corner giving Brian Borus goalkeeper Owen Melanaphy no chance to edge Erne Gaels back ahead.
And that’s how it would finish as an ecstatic Erne Gaels progressed to the final while Kinawley were left devastated as their dream was ended for another year.