As another season started in the Fermanagh Senior Football League we take a look back at todays opening ten games.
Division 1
Ederney 0-12 v Maguiresbridge 2-4 = It was a good start to Mark Henry’s first day as Ederney manager with a two point victory over new boys Maguiresbridge. The Ederney side went in at half time leading 0-8 to 1-1 with the points mainly being supplied by Paul and Darren McCusker, Aaron Dennison and Peter Gormley. Maguiresbridge had a well struck goal coming from Matthew Teague and a point from the lively Sean Corrigan. Two Sean Corrigan frees closed the gap on the home side but John Gallogley, Stephen McElrone and a Chris Snow 45’ all struck points to keep Ederney ahead. A Sean Corrigan penalty goal and a Patrick Hyde point made the finish entertaining but Ederney just about hung on.
Lisnaskea 0-3 v Derrygonnelly 0-16 = Derrygonnelly were to run out 13 point deserving winners with 7 different scorers finding the range for Martin Greene’s side. Garvan McGinley settled the side down with two well struck points from wing half back before further scores gave the Harps a huge 0-9 to 0-1 half time lead. The second half was all very similar with Ryan Jones dominating play and points being supplied by Jones brothers Ryan and Conall, Lee Jones, Gary McKenna, Stephen McGullion and Paul Ward. Sean Keenan was to hit two second half points for Lisnaskea the first being a sublime score but all in all a sorry start for Peter Clarke’s Emmett’s.
Devenish 3-19 v Donagh 0-6 = Donagh were to come into this game missing a staggering 12 players and the result itself was a runaway success for Michael O’Brien’s Devenish side. Pat Cadden and Matthew McGrade kept Donagh in touch early on but Devenish through John O’Flanagan were to prove tough to stop as they went in 1-6 to 0-3 ahead at half time. Terry O’Flanagan and Jason Love added further goals while Martin O’Brien and John O’Flanagan kept the points ticking over with Donagh’s scores coming from Kevin Curran, Jamie Treacy, Pat Cadden and Ryan Kelly. A sorry day was compounded at the very end as Thomas Treacy saved a Pat Cadden penalty.
Erne Gaels 1-8 v Roslea 3-10 = Both sides came into the game without their respective managers but it was Roslea who were to start the season with a fine 8 point victory. James Boyle got the Shamrocks opening goal on 12 minutes but Shane Rooney responded immediately with a fine goal to draw the side’s level. Roslea then pushed on with points from Sean Quigley, Ruairi McGuinness and Diarmuid McAleer but once again Erne Gaels hit back with Barry McCann’s points to leave Roslea leading 1-5 to 1-3 at half time. A Shane Lynch goal was matched with further points from Sean Quigley as Roslea took a real strangle hold on the game, but Erne Gaels’ Barry McCann who hit 0-5 in the second half always kept his side just about in touch., Roslea though finished the game with a real purple patch with Shane Lynch hitting 1-1 and Conor and Seamus Quigley hitting some fine points.
Belcoo 1-7 v Tempo 0-7 = Belcoo recorded their first win over Tempo since 2010 with a battling display down at Lough MacNean Park with youngster Matthew McAloon proving to be the hero. The home side led 0-6 to 0-1 at the break with the points coming from Ciaran Flaherty (2), Johnny Feeley (2) and Paul McGrath (2), while Tempo’s single score coming from Ryan Keenan. Tempo started the second half better with the wind and Ryan Keenan (2) and Damien Kelly (2) brought them right back into it. Youngster Matthew McAloon then found space to score a well taken goal 7 minutes from time that changed the game as two late Ryan Keenan points was not enough for Colm Bradley’s side.
Division 2
Belnaleck 1-8 v Aghadrumsee 0-9 = The first score in this contest didn’t come until the tenth minute with Belnaleck’s Ciaran McBrien doing excellent work to free in Mark Gallagher who side stepped his man before burying his shot to the net, while further scores through Brian Lewsley put Belnaleck 1-3 to 0-0 ahead. Aghadrumsee were to lose their influential midfielder Mark Leonard to a black card although they then hit a real purple patch and through Daryl Boyle, Eddie Courtney and Aidan Little all pointed as Belnaleck went in 1-6 to 0-6 ahead thanks to Ciaran McBrien points. The first score of the second half arrived in the 20th minute of the half through Eddie Courtney and he then hit two further scores in a great performance but it just wasn’t enough as Belnaleck’s Kane Connor struck over two sweet points to give the home side a two point success.
Enniskillen 1-13 v Derrylin 0-9 = An encouraging performance by Enniskillen in Brewster Park as they won through with 7 points to spare at the end. A few Conor McAleer frees always kept Enniskillen ahead in the first half with the Town side leading 0-8 to 0-5 at the break, Derrylin’s scores coming from Barry Murray (2), Paul Lunney, Michael Shannon and Damien Cassidy keeping Derrylin in the hunt. Ryan McCluskey was to fire over some well taken points throughout the second half and a Conor McAleer goal really finished off Derrylin who had Barry Murray and Donal McAvinue scoring their second half points as Warren Dixon’s Enniskillen started the campaign off with a win.
Brookeboro 1-9 v Coa 1-6 = Brookeboro were to prove to be more efficient in the forward department as Darren Boyle’s side collected the opening points on their home pitch. Sean Breen was lively for Brookeboro in the first half but it was Coa who led 0-4 to 0-3 at half time with points coming from Jason Farry, Darren McQuade, Ryan Hanna and Julian Carters. A Ryan Hanna goal in the 43rd minute but Brookeboro responded well with Damian Moane and Aidan Boyle (4) lofting over some fine scores as the home side gradually got on top. Right at the death though a long ball pumped into the Coa full back line was fisted to the net by Damien Curran and Brookeboro start the season with a win.
Newtownbutler 1-8 v Teemore 1-13 = The battle of last seasons relegated sides proved to be a real dogfight with the two points going back to the Shamrocks and their manager Sean Donnelly. Teemore started brightly with Declan Drumm fisting home an early goal before Eoin McManus and John Fitzpatrick notched some neat opening scores for the Shamrocks, while for Newtownbutler Shane Leonard, Gareth Fox and Jarlath Jackman kept Newtownbutler in the contest. Brendan McBrien then dispatched a penalty in the 20th minute to leave it 1-6 to 1-4 in favour of the away side at the break. The second half was once again point for point with Newtownbutler’s Frank Mulligan and Brendan McBrien (3), while for Teemore John Fitzpatrick, Eoin McManus and Declan Fitzpatrick all adding to the Teemore scoreline. With ten minutes to go it was all level but gradually Teemore pulled away through John Fitzpatrick and Eoin McManus.
Irvinestown 0-9 v Kinawley 1-9 = An early Tomas Corrigan goal proved all the difference as Iggy Gallagher got his Kinawley tenure off to the most perfect of starts. Corrigan beautifully palmed the ball to the net from a Shea Keenan pass inside the opening few minutes. Niall Bogue was excellent throughout and fired over a great score, while Irvinestown found points through Ronan Ormsby and Kevin McDonnell as the Brian Boru’s went in at half time leading 1-5 to 0-4. Tomas and Ruairi Corrigan pointed for Kinawley throughout the second half and although Liam Murphy and Ronan Ormsby kept Irvinestown in the game it just wasn’t enough.
By Tom Sun 12th Apr
