That, however, does not tell the whole story and a reckless challenge from Lisbellaw’s Gerry Murphy on Colm McManus after 50 minutes resulted in the Lisbellaw player being red carded, while McManus was transferred to the Erne Hospital with a suspected fractured leg that turned out to be severe bruising and ligament damage. Murphy, himself, sustained a serious looking injury in the challenge. The impact on the game was greater in that McManus was the one player who could have won the game for Lisnaskea and it would have been interesting, had he been able to stay on, as to what the outcome of the match would have been.

    In fairness, the incident was not indicative of the game as a whole which was hard but fair and credit must be given to the players that it did not degenerate further thereafter as tempers threatened to boil over.

    The drama that unfolded in the second half was in sharp contrast to the first, which was fairly unspectacular, with the greater experience and quality of Lisbellaw much to the fore. Lisbellaw settled the quicker with former Colleges all star Dermot Curran opening the score, following a fine pick up and run which he finished off in some style for an excellent point in the fifth minute. Two minutes later, Lisbellaw had a penalty following a rather innocuous challenge on Brian Johnston. Lisbellaw keeper Stephen Hanna made the long trek up to take the penalty but his well struck shot sailed over the bar for a point to put Lisbellaw two ahead.

    The impressive Andrew Breslin then put Lisbellaw three ahead when he pointed from wide on the right as the reigning champions took the game to Lisnaskea.

    The Emmets finally got on the scoreboard in the 14th minute when Colm McManus knocked over a free from wide on the right following a foul on his brother Jason. Colm then picked up a breaking ball around the centre of the field and fired over a fine point to reduce the gap further.

    Lisbellaw were soon back in charge and Murphy knocked over a free after which only a fine save from Mick Keogh denied Lisbellaw a goal. A strong run from Brian Johnston ended with a shot from the Lisbellaw full forward which Keogh did well to save and deflect out for a ‘75’. Paul Colgan knocked over the resultant ‘75’ and with ten minutes to go to half time, Lisbellaw led by 0-05 to 0-02.

    Colgan and McManus then exchanged points before another fine point from Beslin put Lisbellaw four ahead as half time approached. Patrick McCahery then reduced the gap to three with a fine pick up and point but just before the half time whistle, Gerry Murphy punished a crude challenge on Breslin by knocking over the resulting free.

    Ollie McShea did not return for the second with a badly bruised wrist which could impinge upon his championship ambitions with Enniskillen Gaels. He was replaced by Shane O’Donnell.

    Two quick points on the restart by Lisbellaw from Gerry Murphy and a super point from play by Dermot Curran put Lisbellaw six ahead and seemed to signal the end of the game, but the Emmets had other ideas. With Colm McManus in inspiratonal form they took the game to Lisbellaw for the next 15 minutes. A McManus free from fully 75 yards reduced the gap to five and then his midfield partner, Kevin O’Rourke picked up a breaking sliotar and broke forward before slotting over a super point much to the delight of the vociferous Lisnaskea support.

    Both teams then threatened with good goal chances but the two keepers, Hanna and Keogh, did well to deny Paul Jackman and Sean Duffy respectively.

    Soon after, Colm McManus, set up McCahery who turned well and pointed and with 15 minutes to go only three points separated the teams, with Lisnaskea building up a head of steam.

    Shortly after, McManus was scythed down in full flight by Murphy with both players suffering injury. While McManus was carried off, Murphy was sent off and then carried off.

    When calm was eventually restored, Jason McManus pointed the resulting free and two points separated the teams. Indeed, a further free from McManus reduced the gap to a single point with seven minutes to go.

    Curran relieved some of the pressure on Lisbellaw with a pointed free but Kevin O’Rourke knocked over a great point from play to leave the scores at 0-11 to 0-10 as the game entered the final five minutes. Another Curran free put Lisbellaw ahead by two and despite four minutes of injury time, and try as they might, Lisnaskea could not get the goal that they needed for victory. Donal McShea was particularly dominant in the Lisbellaw defence, snuffing out the hopeful Lisnaskea balls into the box. As the final whistle sounded, Lisbellaw had claimed the title yet again. It was their 18th title in 21 years, having lost only twice in 1984 and 1990 with the Championship not being played for in 2000.

    On Sunday last, Lisbellaw showed they have good mix of youth and experience with Andrew Breslin highly impressive.