Irvinestown defeat Harps to land fourth title on the trot

Simply the best!

For Irvinestown’s minor footballers made it four Fermanagh League titles on the trot after a historic victory over a battling Derrygonnelly Harps on an icy, drizzly evening in Brewster Park.

No other club has equalled such a feat in Fermanagh football and who would bet against them for a fourth minor championship on the spin as well.

Incredibly- they also remain undefeated over those past four years. And five of them are part of the adult team’s Intermediate Championship quarter-final clash with Tempo.

Their achievement is worth noting as it is unlikely that any other club in the Erne county will even come near their epic feat.

And while Irvinestown were well worth their eventual five-point victory, a gallant and well-drilled Harps side put it up to them for long periods.

Shane McDermott’s side had to fight all the way and trailed the Harps for long periods.

But two goals from the darting dervish that is Barry Goodwin and another three-pointer from Mattie McDermott were the big scores that turned this game in favour of the north Fermanagh boys.

Derrgonnelly had a bright opening and marksman Niall McKenna opened the scoring with a well-struck point after just a minute and they could have had another-but over-elaboration proved costly as a tentative Irvinestown responded with two wides.

Impressive wing back Naoise Harbinson and powerful midfielder Michael Duffy (who had a great tussle with Irvinestown’s talismanic Mattie McDermott) made it 0-3 to 0-0 after 12 minutes.

But they will rue a probable goal chance spurned when a well-worked move saw Tiarnan O’Neill in a great position deep inside the Irvinestown defence-but instead of driving for goal he played the ball back and Harbinson’s half-struck effort for a point dropped short in the 15th minute.

But that near miss was compounded when a long ball found Goodwin on the edge of the square-one-on-one with a Harps defender.

And the Tummery star showed his shimmering soccer skills with a shimmy and a ball at his feet with a neat finish off the ground into the Harps net.

This was a huge score- somewhat against the run of play- but sparked the game to life.

McKenna pointed a free to put the Harps back in front-but the excellent Mattie McDermott placed Brendan McCauley for the equalizer.

McKenna then did very well to arc over a fine point in a ruck of players.
It was then McDermott showed his real class with two superb points after mazy runs at the Harps.

But a McKenna free levelled matters at Derrygonnelly 0-6 Irvinestown 1-3 at the break.

However, the Harps got a great fillip in the 35th minute when sub Conal Rasdale played a great soccer-style pass to Shane McGee who expertly guided the ball past Irvinestown keeper Jamie McDonald.

But Irvinestown don’t do panic, and Goodwin pointed a free to leave just two points between the sides.

It was then McDermott showed his class with a pointed free and he followed this with a brilliant solo goal in the 48th minute.

An Odhran McGovern free made it 2-6 to 1-7 for Irvinestown with eight minutes to go but they had also racked up eight wides to three for the Harps.

But the game was decided by another moment of Goodwin magic who was cleverly put through and he used his deft soccer skills to slalom around the Harps keeper McHugh and nonchalantly tap home in the 54th minute.

The Harps battle back but all they could muster was a point from sub, Paddy Durcan-as Irvinestown closed out the game in their characteristic clinical fashion.

But, these sides could yet meet again-this time in the minor championship final!