Kinawley 0-15 Derrygonnelly 0-06
In years to come, when the history of the LGFA in Fermanagh is written, this Kinawley team will rightly have a hallowed spot.
On Saturday evening they collected a ‘Magnificent Seven’ Fermanagh Ladies title on the trot against a badly outgunned Derrygonnelly side whose talismanic Eimear Smyth had Kinawley’s Kate Murphy and Eimear Keenan for constant company.
But Kinawley, who had nine county players in their squad had threats from all over the field- and a very good spread of scorers as well.
The winners were superior in all departments- well drilled and ruthless on the counter-attack and showed yet again why they could be Erne kingpins for quite some time.
For, despite taking county titles as regularly as tea- they are showing no signs of easing up and play with a desire and hunger that is quite relentless.
Kinawley were smartly out of the blocks and the lively Lisa Maguire and Joanne Doonan arrowed over two fine opening points.
The Harps had a chance of a goal when Smyth somehow managed to outpace her two constant companions and was one-on-one with Kinawley keeper Aine Haren.
But just when it looked like the gifted full forward must score, Haren got down to make a vital save.
The Harps really needed that score to settle down but instead, Maguire and Aine McGovern tacked on two more points for Kinawley who led by 0-04 to no score by the
Their impressive full forward Gemma McCaffrey added three more points on the spin to leave Kinawley leading by 0-07 to 0-01 by the 20th minute.
The Harpettes were finding it very hard to make any inroad on a cast iron Kinawley defence.
Joanne Dooanan made it 0-8 to 0-1 with McCaffrey and Keelan Murphy making it 0-11 to 0-01, as Smyth replied with a pointed free for Derrygonnelly.
The Harpette had the breeze in the second half and fared much better and held Kinawley to five points and, unlike the League final, conceded no goals.
Imogen Knight pointed for Derrygonnelly with Niamh McManus responding for Kinawley.
But Derrygonnelly almost had a goal when a fine move that was started and finished by Smyth- but her left-footed shot came off the foot of the post when it had goal written all over it.
By now Bronagh Smyth was on the field for Derrygonnelly and she combined with her sister Eimear Smyth who converted a free in the 38th minute.
Two minutes later Sara Jane Jones hit a fine point to make it 0-12 to 0-05.
Derrygonnelly had more possession in his half, but Doonan curled over a fine point for Kinawley to make it 0-13 to 0-05.
But they hit four wides from frees into a tricky wind. Gemma McCaffrey made it 0-14 to 0-05 and Doonan had the last say for the most deserving winners.
Kinawley now meet the winners of Clann Eireann and Emyvale in the Ulster Club Championship and will be hoping to finally get over the first round in the provincial championship at senior level.
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