Gaels begin with a win over Teemore in championship

Enniskillen Gaels began the 2024 Senior Championship with a win at home against Teemore as goals from Conor Love and Callum Jones were crucial in the end for Simon Bradley’s side.

Tony Collins’ team will take a lot of heart from Friday’s meeting on their return to the top championship competition as they lost out by just one kick of a ball against a strong Gaels outfit that will be one of the favourites to lift the New York Cup.

Both sides went into the game on form having both picked up league titles in the same venue midway through August.

It was Enniskillen who made the breakthrough early on as John Reihill popped over a free in the opening moments.

Brandon Horan would engineer his way through the Teemore backline to scoop over an effort off the right boot.

Reihill tapped over another free as Teemore’s shooting was their downfall in the early stages, but they did get off the mark, just past the 15-minute mark, through a Colm McNally free from close range.

Ronan McCaffrey would quickly close the gap to one point as a lofted ball over the top from Ruairi Maguire was caught by the oncoming midfielder and he swung over a right-footed shot.

Conor McShea put his laces through the ball to make it 0-04 to 0-02 while Conor Love then opened his account after lifting over a shot off a solo run on the left wing.

The all-important score of the first-half came in the 24th minute, Love again using his running power as he played a one-two with Paddy Reihill and then powered in a near post finish from an angle, despite Teemore shouts that the forward touched the ball on the ground earlier in the move.

McCaffrey would end the half with a free at the other end, to make it 1-05 to 0-03 as the sides made their way towards the changing rooms.

Colm McNally kicked the first point of the second half, seconds after the restart but just two minutes later, the Gaels would find their second goal.

Jones picked up a loose ball outside the ’45 and drove towards goal, playing a one-two with Ciaran Smith and then John Reihill before palming in from close range.

McCaffrey curled over another free that dropped in from the clouds before goalkeeper James Maguire denied his opposite number Ross Bogue from adding a third goal.

McCaffrey again added as the Gaels then hit back-to-back wides. Horan made it 2-06 to 0-07 with under 10 minutes to go as Shamrocks midfielder Jason McCaffrey was shown a black card.

Points from Colm McNally and Oisin Murphy left a kick off a ball between the teams heading into injury time but the Shamrock's best goal chance came from Ruairi Maguire and was well blocked by Nathan Tierney.