Fermanagh Juniors 5 DME Football 2

It was a five-star display in Bushmills to finish a historic week for the Fermanagh Juniors, with a 5-2 win over DME Football securing third place in the Globe and a 7th place overall finish in SuperCupNI, the highest ever finish for a Junior side from the county.

Fermanagh stormed the opening half with a Kayden McGovern brace giving the Ernemen a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

Fermanagh were attacking at will and two further quickfire finishes from the prolific Jay Ely and Alfie Jones put the side into a commanding position at the break.

An early DME finish at the start of the second period failed to unnerve the boys in green, with another fine Ely finish ensuring that the Erne County finished the week in style.

Fermanagh set the game alight from the start, opening the scoring inside three minutes.

McGovern received the ball on the right side, before chipping an effort over the DME goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net to give his side an early lead.

Minutes later it was 2-0. Lucas Connolly had possession on the left side played a ball inside to Ely, who headed into the path of the well-placed McGovern who calmly converted from close to get his and Fermanagh’s second.

The confidence was coursing through the veins of the Fermanagh players at this point, playing some fantastic possession football and McGovern, Ely and Kimi Thompson all having chances to extend their sides advantage.

McGovern was involved with the third goal as well in the 31st minute.

Helping his side win a corner before substitute Alfie Jones, just on the pitch, directed a corner onto the head of Ely at the far post, who powered home a header from close range to get a deserved goal.

Jones turned from provider to finisher two minutes later, dropping the shoulder before caressing a fine strike beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.

Fermanagh had opportunities to edge even further ahead. Ely cut inside and rattled an effort off the far post. Soon after, a flicked header by Thompson found the acrobatic Ely, with an overhead kick attempt again rattling the post Fermanagh didn’t want the half to end, with the break serving to momentarily stall the Erne momentum.

An early corner from the American’s deflected into the net to give them hope.

Ely did have the ball in the net again, but the referee flagged for offside just as the forward directed the ball into the net.

Cathair Maguire was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet, powering his shot just over bar following good set-up play by Kacper Ferens.

Jones and Ferens combined to set up the Fermanagh fifth, Jones’ ball out to Ferens who crossed towards Ely at the far post who applied the finishing touch.

In the 65th minute, DME’s Carter Berry finished from a tight angle for a late consolation.

But it was Fermanagh who secured a deserved well and left the field to a rapturous applause.