Irvinestown 0-13 Devenish 0-04

Irvinestown’s phenomenal underage success is gradually coming through at adult level after this convincing victory over Devenish at blustery Belcoo.

For their youthful stars had too much power and pace for a wasteful Devenish side who badly missed the unavailable John Joe O’Loughlin and Darren Brady.

There was only a point between the sides in the League final, played some weeks ago, with Irvinestown just prevailing, but the result was never in any real doubt in a game where Irvinestown’s Conor O’Hanlon gave an exhibition in trying conditions.

For Devenish, the impressive Cian O’Brien and Jarlath O’Brien led the charge up front but the Leitrim borders side hit eleven wides including two missed goal chances in the opening half.

Irvinestown were sharper and in 17-year-old Mattie McDermott have a real star of the future.

Irvinestown had the advantage of an icy wind blowing from Lough MacNean, a wind that would cut corn in the opening half and were well worth their interval lead of 0-08 to 0-02.

McDermott opened the scoring from a free after two minutes and Cormac McCauley doubled their lead in the third minute.

But Devenish hit back smartly with two points of their own, one when Cian O’Brien fed his brother Jarlath for a neat point.

Jarlath O’Brien could have had a goal two minutes when a patient Devenish build-up temporarily unlocked the Irvinestown defence.

O’Brien was clean through on goal and the ball fell at his feet and he blasted over the bar to level matters after nine minutes.

But the Blues did not score for the rest of the half as man-of-the-match O’Hanlon put on an exhibition of scoring.

He put the winners back in front with three points on the trot to put them into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the halfway mark.

McDermott pointed a free to leave four points between the sides.

Cian O’Brien went on a great run through the Irvinestown defence but just pulled his shot wide when another goal looked on, as Irvinestown tagged on two more points from the imperious O’Hanlon to leave them ahead by 0-08 to 0-02 with halftime approaching.

Irvinestown had a great chance of a goal when McDermott, who was in a tangle with McNulty spotted Devenish veteran keeper Paul Murphy off his line, but his chip just shaved the upright and wide.

Irvinestown were well worth their six-point lead at the break and Caolan McGoldrick, nephew of ex-Fermanagh hurling great Joe McGoldrick, stretched the lead.

Devenish responded with a pointed free from Cian O’Brien.

They had another goal chance after good play between O’Brien, Martin Doherty and Thomas McHugh ended with the latter blasting a shot goal wards, but Irvinestown keeper Shea Mulligan pulled off a fine save.

The pace dropped from there to the finish with O’Hanlon and McDermott adding more points and Cian O’Brien responding for Devenish from a free to end their scoring.

Devenish had a few chances of points but were off target as Irvinestown cruised to an emphatic win.

Happy Irvinestown mentor Shane McDermott who has been involved in their underage success along with Eugene Swift, praised his young charges: “There are a lot of young lads in that team, and they are all working very hard to a system.

“Eugene Swift is the manager, and I am helping out and it is nice to get a bit of silverware on the table, especially after losing the Division Two League final to Teemore last week.”

He added: “Conor O’Hanlon is a fine player but there is a lot of young lads who are working very hard, and they are like sponges-soaking up every bit of information and eager to learn more which is always a very good sign.”

Irvinestown have won every underage title in Fermanagh from U-10 to U-18 and McDermott and Swift have been at the helm, so, the future looks bright.

“They have won every title and are used to winning and they are a great bunch of lads and this is their second title which should encourage them."