February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Rangers 1-17, Fermanagh 1-7
Coming up against a Fermanagh side that had already won twice this season, nobody really knew what kind of result to expect in this junior football Div. I game.
Rangers produced a fine performance that suggest they’re back on form and looking to get in amongst the big guns in the senior divisions. Surging through the Fermanagh backline, marshalled by Noel McGovern, the nippy forwards of Rangers such as Dave Regan, Cormac Murray and Mark Fitzgerald managed to fire in some long range scores to rack up a decent lead in the first half.
Fermanagh, as expected, fought back, and their backline began to toughen up, forcing the Rangers forwards back a little. Fermanagh registered points from Sean Melly, Rory Judge and Darren Doherty to make a game of it, but as play continued, the Rangers front men seemed to get better and better.
Going into the interval, Rangers held a convincing seven-point lead, and it was obvious that the Ulster side would have to come out fighting for every ball in the second half.
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It didn’t quite happen that way however. With Darren Doherty sent off, Fermanagh were left a man short, and Rangers had more room to play with.
A goal from Dave Regan, and further points from Phelan, Murray and Hussy rounded off the scoring to give Rangers a much deserved victory.
Fermanagh are by no means out of the competition but with a couple of tough games coming up versus such sides as Donegal, it does not auger well. There’s still quite a way to go in the season, and whether Rangers can keep up this type of form remains to be seen. They’ve threatened to clinch the title in previous seasons with some fine victories early in the season, only to allow their campaign fall apart in the latter stages.
Rangers, tipped by many each year to grab the first division title in the junior ranks, have disappointed their supporters by failing at the final hurdles in the past few seasons. Playing both gritty and great football at times, and managing to grind out the results even when they don’t play well, Denis Tuomey’s Blues have gained much respect with their style of play. Currently, they stand near the top of the table, with four victories from five games, with only the mighty Donegal standing in the way of a top position in junior football.
Rangers: John Williams, Malachy McHugh, Mike Rennicks, Tom Bermingham, Tomas Maher (0-1), Ciaran Kelleher, Anthony McGrath (0-1), Rory Hussey (0-1), Peter Devitt (0-1), Mark Fitzgerald (0-3), Dave Regan (1-3), Conor Beggan (0-1), Dave Ryan, Dave Phelan (0-2), Cormac Murray (0-4). Subs: Mike Sheridan, Fintan O’Shea, Kevin Martin, Sean Concannon
Fermanagh: Alan Beatty, Phelim Campbell, Noel McGovern, Pauric Monaghan, Francis Loughran (0-1), Marty McGlade, Paul McGuirk (1-0), Richie Rennicks, Gareth McLoughlin (0-1), Darren Doherty (0-1), Peadar O’Toole, Joe Egan, Sean Melly (0-2), Rory Judge (0-2).