It was a mixture of elation and unadulterated relief that Declan Bonner greeted his side’s narrow win over old rivals Derrygonnelly Harps.

It was an emotional occasion and there were understandable scenes of joy as the border men prepare for a county final joust with Enniskillen Gaels.

Erne Gaels have gone for broke this year by bringing in Bonner and Paul Brennan from Donegal to get over the line.

They are an ageing team and for 13 of the squad, this will be their fourth county final.

When it was put to him that things were getting a bit hot on the line, he replied:
“What do you expect, it was a real championship clash-a proper championship match with no quarter asked or given and both teams left everything out on the pitch and both teams have great respect for each other.

“It is great to be back in the final with these guys.”

But it took a sterling final 12 minutes for the Gaels to seal the deal after failing to score for 25 minutes.

“We did not get into the game until those final minutes, and we went a total of 25 minutes without scoring.

“But I thought our subs made a real difference out there today and especially Seamie Ryder and Aogan Kelm who hit our last three points.

“We needed that badly and it is a squad game and we now have two weeks of hard work ahead of us preparing for Enniskillen and we will be underdogs going in against Enniskillen but we will look forward to that now.”

Former Erne player Ryder was always going to give the Gaels that extra option up front.

“We knew the game was going to open up a bit in the last ten minutes so that was an ideal time for Seamie to come on and he is so skilful and so accurate, and his first point was really something special and really lifted the team.

“We knew if we could get ball into Seamie that we would have chances and thankfully that is how it turned out.

“He has done it down through the years and he is well capable of kicking a score. I am delighted for Seamie.”

The Gaels were a point down eight minutes from time, so was Bonner worried?

“Of course, we were worried and in the Group stages we only scored one point in the second half over in Irvinestown against Derrygonnelly and we were leading by four at the break and I thought we got some brilliant scores from the lads in the last ten minutes and they showed real character and it was very pleasing.

“And Aogan Kelm made a big difference as well as his pace is awesome.

“He is carrying an injury, and we have to nurse him and be careful with him.

“But nothing is handed out yet and we have a big two weeks ahead of us.”

This victory ended an eight-year Harps hoodoo which Bonner admitted was a factor.

“That makes it all the sweeter when you do get over the line."

But now they must prepare for an Enniskillen Gaels side who beat Ederney by 4-13 to 2-8 in a power-packed display in Tempo.

“They are a really good side and had a big win today and we will be going in as underdogs which suits us fine.

“This is the third final for the lads in a row and their commitment has been huge all year.

“We also got Odhran Johnston his first 20 minutes of football all year and that is a big plus for us.

“All the players are back on the pitch and that is satisfying too.”