Ennskillen 1-9 Aughdrumsee 1-4

A stern defensive performance was the key to the winning of the minor league final on home turf in Brewster Park.

After an indifferent start, the Gaels defence held the Aughdrumsee team scoreless for nearly half an hour as they established a winning position. It was Aughdrumsee who made the better start though and were 1-1 to no score ahead 10 mins. The first score of the game was a well worked goal, the full forward winning a good ball and providing an equally good finish to give his team the pefect start. The full forward then put over a close in free to extend their lead. Aughdrumsee were playing a third midfielder to try and reduce the influence of Richard Callaghan in midfield and the extra space in the full back line was being exploited by a lively Aughdrumsee attack.

It was Enniskillen who had the advantage of the breeze in the first half but were making little headway on the scoreboard.Enniskillen had a number of wides and they needed a score to settle to their task The score eventually did come though and it was a clever ball from Christopher Sheridan who released James Carney who slotted over from the left hand side. Indeed the left half back Carney was to have a great hour overall contributing both in defence and on the scoreboard. By this time Rico Ledwith had retreated from following his marker outfield and his excellent reading saw him intercept a number of Aughdrumsee attacks as they developed.

Gary Donegan was next to score for Gaels fed neatly by Sean Corrigan. Carney then popped up again, as a sideline ball found Sheridan and he picked out the overlapping Carney to slot over the Gaels third point. Though the Gaels were now dominating with the aid of the elements, the wides mounted up and coming closer to half time it looked like the Aughdrumsee team would hold a slender lead. However the last few minutes of the first half were productive for the Gaels and this time the provider Sheridan neatly pointed over under pressure after the Gaels midfield had intercepted a free out. From the kickout Callaghan made a strong run and slotted over the lead point from a central position.

Half Time Enniskillen 0-5 Aughdrumsee 1-1

With the elements now with Aughdrumsee they would have turned round in confident mood that the slender Gaels lead would be overcome. Instead though, Gaels began the second half with scoring burst that was to give them a comfortable lead. First Paul Mullan won the throw in break,played a 1-2 and popped over for a great second half start. Next Sean Corrigan punted over a long range effort. Then, a ball in from Kirk West after good interplay with Sheridan, was won and finished neatly to the bottom corner by John Dooris from a narrow angle. The Gaels now lead 1-7 to 1-1 and it was now up to Aughdrumsee to provide a response. The point for Aughdrumsee came after a rare mistake in the Gaels defence and the full forward was through but a brave block from the Gaels keeper Kieran Leonard saw the shot deflected over.The game was then held up for successive injuries to an Aughdrumsee attacker and Richard Callaghan and when play resumed it was that man Carney who popped up again for his third score of the afternoon after good work from Callaghan. Aughdrumsee pulled one back with a well taken free from 30 yards out and followed this up again with another after a slack ball in midfield released the Aughdrumsee no 12. The gap was closing and the Gaels defence need to be on their toes again as this was Aughdrumsee's best spell since the start of the game. Indeed the game could have been much closer as Leonard deflected a shot for a 45 after the Aughdrumsee was one on one with him from a narrow angle. This was the spur the Gaels needed and the right half back Conor McAleer scored the point of the game with a run that started in his own half. Steve Clarke and Mark Hoy were introduced as fresh legs and Gaels were able to play out the last  minutes without further score.

The captain, Richard Callaghan accepted the League trophy and thanked the Aughdrumsee team for a good game, the mentors and his teammates.

The Gaels were best served by the whole defence with James Carney outstanding with able support from Rico Ledwith, Ronan McDonagh and Nicky Dunbar. Richard Callaghan excelled at midfield with Paul Mullan an eager and capable foil. Up front the Gaels fared less well, though credit should go to a willing Aughdrumsee defence. Best here was Christopher Sheridan who was involved in most of the scores with Corrigan also getting through a lot of link work.

Overall the Gaels will be happy with their performance, the main concern being the tally of wides over the hour. No doubt Dermot and the other mentors will be sure to point to this as more work to be done in the lead up to the championship.

Enniskillen Panel: Kieran Leonard, Ronan McDonagh, Liam Mohan, Rico Ledwith, Conor McAleer(0-1), Nicky Dunbar, James Carney(0-3), Richard Callaghan(0-1), Paul Mullan(0-1), Kirk West, Sean Corrigan(0-1), John Dooris(1-0), Christopher Sheridan(0-1), Gary Donegan(0-1), Liam Lindsay, Steve Clarke, Mark Hoy, Conor Shannon, Niall Shannon, Greg Tierney, Marty Markey, Damian McKay Aidan Bailey, Ryan Brewster, Michael McConville(inj)

For more photos of final see this the Gallery Link from top of page