N.Y. GAA Fermanagh in late-scoring flurry

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Fermanagh 1-11, Down 2-6

The first game of the season was an Ulster affair, a junior football Div. A battle between two sides convinced that they should be playing their football at a higher level.

Down held the upper hand throughout the first half and had corner back Jake Rooney to thank when he converted a penalty early in the game to give his side a two point advantage, following Fermanagh’s Gareth McLoughlin’s first point of the afternoon.

Fermanagh fought back immediately, and were awarded a free kick in a decent position, which on any other day, McLoughlin would have hit over the bar.

Counter attack followed counter attack, and the sides were soon level when McLoughlin hit two consecutive shots over the bar. Darren Doherty of Fermanagh, playing his first of two games of the afternoon, shot wide minutes later, having been put clean through by Marty Moss’s pinpoint pass.

John Markey and Marty McGivern followed with good, if off target efforts for Down, and Fermanagh went on the counter attack, with Marty McGlade’s effort swinging narrowly wide. Jody Gormley’s effort registered for Down, and going into the interval, the Mourne men led Fermanagh by a score of 1-3 to 0-3.

The early stages of the second half belonged to neither side. McLoughlin hit another free for Fermanagh and Gormley hit one for Down. A penalty for Fermanagh resulted in McLoughlin’s effort sailing over the bar, and Gene Mulligan’s point brought Fermanagh to within a point. What could well have proved to be the deciding score of the game followed from the boot of Down’s Paul Gannon, who’s looping shot, seemingly destined for over the bar, slipped behind Kevin Boyle’s goal line. This gave Down a much needed boost, but when they should really have grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, they were collared by Fermanagh who fought back.

Sean Melly hit a point, and a goal from the penalty spot to level the game, and Fermanagh went ahead due to efforts from Brian Maguire, and McLoughlin. This late scoring flurry proved to be the last of the afternoon, and Fermanagh went out two point winners.

Fermanagh: Kevin Boyle, Gene Mulligan (0-1), Ciaran Lee, Noel McGovern, Hugh McGuinness, Declan Cathcart, Padraig Monaghan, Sean Melly (1-1), Paul McGuirk, Gareth McLoughlin (0-7), Joe Egan, Darren Doherty, Marty McGlade, Brian Maguire (0-1), Marty Moss (0-1). Sub: Barry Shannon

Down: Adrian Markey, Paul Morgan, Liam Murray, Jake Rooney (1-0), Ronan Kearney, Collie Mathers, Marty McGivern, Jody Gormley (0-5), Paul Gannon (1-1), Chris McManus, John Markey, Gerry O’Hare, Martin Rooney, Pauric Tunney, James Morgan. Subs: Stephen McGee, Alan Palmer

Man of the match: Darren Doherty (Fermanagh)

Referee: Jimmy Naughton.