Erne Gaels 0-10 Derrygonnelly 0-09

The eight-year championship hoodoo is over. For some great late points from super subs Seamie Ryder and Aogan Kelm pushed Belleek into their third county final on the trot.

And it came after a titanic battle between one of the greatest rivalries in Fermanagh football in recent years.

Since the county final of 2016, Derrygonnelly Harps have had the Indian sign on Erne Gaels, Belleek in championship matches- the most recent one in Irvinestown a fortnight ago when they hit a last-minute goal to beat the Gaels once again at the death.

And it was also desperately close in Kinawley on Sunday as the Gaels were clinging to a slender one-point lead when a high dangerous ball was launched deep into the Gael’s goalmouth.

It looked like dipping into the net, but keeper Brian Ryder fielded the ball, and danger was averted as the Gaels led by 0-09 to 0-08.

But it was edge-of-the-seat stuff for the vocal and passionate Erne Gaels boss Declan Bonner as the Harps pressed hard for an equaliser.

But time ran out on their most gallant effort in a most difficult season for them, and the roars of relief could be heard back in Belleek at the final whistle as the Gaels advanced to their third county final appearance on the trot and their fourth since 2016.

This was a real full-blooded affair, and a few scuffles broke out on the whistle before order was restored and handshakes were exchanged.

The temperature was red hot on the line as well between these old rivals and both benches briefly lost control of themselves over a disputed line ball in the 40th minute in an unsavoury incident -which thankfully was an isolated one.

But this was always going to be a tight affair as Ultan Kelm, who was well policed by county colleague Oisin Smyth found Shane Rooney who opened the scoring for the Gaels after four minutes.

The Gaels had loads of possession and Paul Ward doubled the advantage after five minutes with Ultan O’Reilly making it 0-03 to no score by the 10th minute.

The Harps were struggling to get into the game a marksman Gary McKenna pointed for Derrygonnelly but Ryan Lyons made it 0-04 to 0-01 for the Gaels.

Stephen McGullion found Leigh Jones and the latter hit a screamer over the bar to reduce the margin to two points.

The Harps bench was enraged when McKenna was adjudged to have stolen too many yards in a kick from the sideline which he pointed but was brought back for a hopped ball.

But McKenna quickly added a point as Barry McCann pointed a 45 to make it 0-05 to 0-02 for Belleek as McKenna reduced the margin to two points with a neat effort.
Harps keeper Jack Kelly landed a long-range point to bring it back to the minimum margin.

Exchanges were hard-hitting, and Tommy McCaffrey, Barry McCann and Stephen McGullion got yellow cards from referee Eoin Murphy who let things run a tad too much at times, and some of his decisions for both sides were puzzling.

But he did a reasonable job in sometimes trying circumstances.

An Ultan Kelm free made it 0-06 to 0-04 and the Harps had a great chance of a goal at the other end as Michael Óg McGarrigle pulled off a diving block on the line to deny Rory Joe Duffy a certain goal just before the short whistle.

But Erne Gaels did not score for another 26 minutes as the Harps roared back into the game on the resumption.

McKenna swiftly responded on the resumption and Gareth McGovern levelled matters with a fine point in the 35th minute.

The momentum was swinging the Harps way and then we had a moment of madness on the line where a few individuals were lucky not to get a card or two.

McKenna put the Harps into the lead by 0-07 to 0-06 by the 42nd minute. Sensing the danger signals in a ten-minute scoring famine, the Belleek bench sent on Aogan Kelm and Seamie Ryder… game-changing moves.

Oisin Kelm broke the Belleek scoring famine in the 53rd minute with a great point from an acute angle to level matters as the temperature got even hotter.

Two minutes later Ultan Kelm found Ryder who scored a great point without even looking at the posts to restore their lead.

Two more minutes later Ryder played a clever ball into Ultan Kelm and he swept over a point.

McKenna narrowed the gap before rampant Ryder made it 0-10 to 0-08.

And even though McKenna hit a late free, the Gaels held on for a memorable victory.