It was heart stopping stuff in Dunleer on Sunday but a late, late point from Aishling Maguire saw Fermanagh Ladies progress through to the final of the All Ireland Junior Championship.

Time and again Fermanagh had to claw their way back into the game, first of all sending the contest to extra time before eventually coming out on top with the last kick of the game from Aisling Maguire.

“It was an unbelievable finish and it was a great point by Aisling Maguire to win it. We’re all delighted to be in an All Ireland final,” said manager Emmet Curry following his side’s victory.

“The girls have big hearts and they showed great character and determination, we had to keep coming back. We were three points down at the end of the game and got a goal to take it to extra time and then in the second period of extra time we were four points down and we had a player sin binned but we came back to win by a point with the last kick of the game. You can only be proud of them,” said Curry.

London provided a stern test for the young Erne outfit but they refused to be beaten on the day.

“That is a very good London team and they outplayed us but we just kept at them and hung in there and we managed to go on and win the game. I couldn’t be happier for the players,” added Curry.

And the Fermanagh boss went on to praise trainer Mickey Cadden for the fitness levels of the side as they finished extra time strongly to claim the victory.

“Mickey Cadden is a brilliant trainer and he has them in great shape. Our girls kept going right to the end and that is the training that Mickey has put them through.

“Josie Boyle also deserves great praise for the work she has done as well and we are delighted.”

Sunday’s game saw another clinical display from Eimear Smyth as she landed 11 points and Curry feels that the young Derrygonnelly player has formed a strong partnership with Sharon Murphy in the full forward line.

“Eimear Smyth is a manager’s dream and she was excellent on Sunday and so too was Sharon Murphy. Sharon wins the ball and lays it off and Eimear puts it over the bar. They work well together,” he said.

The final, which will take place at Croke Park on September 24, will see Fermanagh come up against Derry for a fifth time this season, the Erne side having won all the previous four games. However, Curry believes that Derry are a better side than the one that Fermanagh beat recently in Ballinacreen and they will be a formidable opponent in the decider.

“Derry are better now than when we played them in Ballinascreen and we know that it is going to be difficult. The girls won’t be getting carried away, in fact I think that game on Sunday will be a wake up call given how close we were to losing it and the girls will keep their feet firmly on the ground,” he commented.

Now, with the side having made it through to the final, Curry is hopeful that they can go on and get their hands on the silverware.

“It would be great to win it. The girls have put in a great effort every night at training and they have shown a great commitment throughout the season. We will get back to training on Friday night and get right back into it and we’ll be ready for the final,” he concluded.