Fermanagh Minors book their place in Ulster Final

Ulster Minor Championship semi-final Derry 1-07 Fermanagh 2-13

Fermanagh minors produced an excellent second half performance
last Tuesday evening over a strong Derry side to ensure their
place in the Ulster final. This semi-final encounter experienced
everything, Fermanagh dominated the first half however failed
to convert vital scores, Derry with little positions and playing
against a strong breeze headed in at half one point down and the
happier. While Fermanagh finished the first half with 14 player,
with one player sin bin three minutes from the end of the first
thirty minutes. Playing in a sunny Draperstown, the game started
with Fermanagh winning much of the possession from the off, assisted
by a strong breeze behind them the girls created some great movement
and play however the final shooting letting them down. The opening
ten minuets seen Enniskillen’s Eimear Keenan, latching onto a
great pass, from team captain Aileen Moane, and cooling slotting
the ball over the bar to register Fermanagh’s first score. This
settled the erne girls somewhat with play swinging from end to
end before Kirsty Martin registered Fermanagh second point of
the game. Enniskillen sharp attacker Anna Harte exchanged points
with Dungiven Orla Boyle (2). The pressure applied by Fermanagh
started to pay of, with great work from Katie Mohan, Aileen Moane
and Sharon Little who final pass met the high fielding fist of
Adel Gallagher who made no mistake in putting it to the back of
the net. This great score was followed up by points from Eimear
Keenan (2) and Little (1). Derry upped the work rate in the last
5 minutes to secure a well taken goal from the impressive Orla
Boyle and two points from Briege Doherty to leave the score line
reading Derry 1-05 to Fermanagh 1-06.

Three minutes before the end of half Fermanagh lost a player
to the sin bin rule, but half time came just at the right time
as Fermanagh were able to regroup and reorganize. The second half
seen a much more direct style of play from Fermanagh and the girls
started to show a greater desire and propose. The 2nd half, belong
to the erne girls, excellent performances being produced all over
the field. The forward line of Keenan, Harte and Green were very
busy and causing Derry a lot of trouble. Two points were confidently
executed by top scorer Eimear Keenan while linking play seen the
same player expertly places the ball in Derry’s net leaving the
keeper no chance. Derry second scoring record did not do justice
to their performance only registering 2 point while Fermanagh
went on to record 1-07 and were well worth their award of a place
in the Ulster final. Derry two points of the half came from the
hard working forwards of Rachel Walls and Orla Boyle. In the final
ten minuets Fermanagh ensured their place in the final through
fine scores taken by forward Green, Harte, and Little while mid-field
duo Gallagher and Moane finished with one point apiece to read
the final score Fermanagh 2-13 Derry 1-07. Fermanagh ladies now
due to meet Armagh in the Ulster final. On reflection after the
match joint manager Aine Burns stated that the girls were fortunate
to come away with the win after missing so many chances however
they showed great character and fully deserved their place in
the final.

Fermanagh Team: D. Owens, N. Donegan, E. Campbell, M. Murphy,
J. Feely, K.Mohan, A. McNally, A. Moane, D, Moane, S. Little,
K, Martin, A. Gallagher, S. Greene, A. Harte, E. Keenan Subs used;
S. Teague, L. Murphy, K. Cunningham, D. McDermott.