Enniskillen hit four goals to storm into championship final

Enniskillen Gaels showed in spades why they have been the stand-out side in this year’s Fermanagh championship after this emphatic victory over a resolute Ederney side in Tempo.

Ederney gave a typical game display but just had too many fires to put out against a team of immense talents.

The Gaels created and hit four goals. Three were quite brilliant in their execution while the third and vital goal had an element of good fortune.

Ederney replied with two goals of their own- but the second one came in added time and was largely irrelevant.

Once again midfielder Jonny Cassidy was the Gaels driving force-the man with the cruising speed of a Mercedes and he hit a fabulous first goal to really set the Gaels on the road to victory.

He was ably assisted by veteran Richie O’Callaghan, team captain Conor McShea and the mercurial genius of Conor Love- one of the deadliest strikers in the county.

The Gaels were composed, confident and patient throughout and have a ruthless edge that was not as apparent in previous teams.

They took the title in 2022 with a convincing win over Erne Gaels and then lost to the Belleek men in last year’s county final.

But there is an extra edge to Simon Bradley’s side this year and they are rightful favourites to regain the New York Gold Cup in a fortnight.

A moment of silence was held for Enniskillen Gaels man John Quinn before throw-in following his passing.

O’Callaghan and Love eased the Gaels into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after a very tame opening ten minutes.

Manus Maguire responded with a point for Ederney before we had a bit of Gaels magic in the 15th minute.

A stunning five-man move saw Cassidy steam down the centre of the Ederney defence before unleashing a rocket to the top corner of the St Joseph’s net-a goal to grace any occasion.

Three minutes later the Gaels struck again when Love found himself one-on-one with Maguire and he showed great strength in holding off the challenge and netting.

Chris Snow pointed a free for Ederney who hit back with a goal of their own when Martin McGrath (43) found space in the Gaels' full back-line and the ball was worked to Finlay Harron who cooly netted to leave the Gaels leading by 2-2 to 1-2.

Ederney had a half chance of another goal as McGrath pulled on a loose ball in a shaky-looking Gaels full back line- but it was saved and Love pointed at the other end.

The Gaels almost had a third goal, but Snow saved brilliantly at the feet of Conor McShea.

Cassidy ended the half with an exquisite left-footed point to leave the Gaels leading by 2-4 to 1-2 at the break.

Callum Jones and Paul McCusker swapped points on the resumption and Snow and Conor McShea also exchanged scores as an improved Ederney reduced the defecit to 2-6 to 1-6 thanks to a Shay Deazley point.

Then disaster struck for Ederney when a high lob came off their upright and Conor Murphy scrambled the ball to the net at the second attempt in the 35th minute to open up a six-point gap.

It got even better for the Gaels in the 45th minute when O’Callaghan finished off a fine move to the net from an Ethan Beresford pass.

Nine points up and the game was effectively over as McShea and P McCusker exchanged points.

Cassidy, Conor Love, O’Callaghan and McShea (0-2) closed out the scoring for the Gaels while Daire Gallagher had a late goal for Ederney.

This was a most impressive display from Simon Bradley’s men who have had a fine season so far and it will take an exceptional effort from Erne Gaels to beat them.