Lisnaskea Rovers 12 Enniskillen Rovers 2

Division Three leaders Lisnaskea Rovers hit bottom side Enniskillen Rovers for 12 on a frosty afternoon at Castle Park to open up a six-point advantage at the top.

Saturday’s clash was only one of two first-team games to go ahead in the Fermanagh and Western due to weather conditions last weekend.

However, Lisnaskea would not be stopped by the cold conditions as they took another step to promotion with a hammering that saw eight different scorers among the 12 goals scored.

It also brings them up to 52 goals scored this season in just 11 games.

Lisnaskea Rovers’ Manager Shane O’Donnell said following the victory: “It was a comfortable win but another great performance from all the lads, including all the substitutes again.

“I’m sure there will be tougher tests to come but fair play to Enniskillen Rovers – they never gave up.”

Lisnaskea Rovers had the game all but won after half an hour. An early penalty from Sean Keenan was dispatched after Brian McDermott had been fouled inside the box.

And it was McDermott who scored quickfire goals in the 15th and 16th minute to make it 3-0 with Rovers not wasting any time in racking up their goal tally.

Ryan Rooney continued his hot streak in front of goal following last week’s hat-trick away to Omagh Albion. Niall Keenan and Rooney netted again before the Enniskillen side pulled back one back with a well-worked attack that saw Colm Jones get his name on the scoresheet.

Brian McDermott completed his hat-trick just before the half-time whistle, which left the score at 6-1 as the teams went in for the interval.

Manager O’Donnell made a handful of substitutions a few minutes into the second half and the introduction of Hayden Lynch led to the forward finding his side’s seventh goal on the hour mark.

Michael Jones grabbed another from the penalty spot and Ronan McHugh found a second for Enniskillen before Jamie McCaffrey hit back with an instant response.

Defenders Aidan Keenan and Cillian Jones rounded up the scoring in the final ten minutes with a performance that sent a statement of intent in Lisnaskea’s penultimate fixture before the Christmas break.

They will be hoping to extend their lead over fourth-placed Dunbreen Rovers as the two sides meet in Omagh this weekend for each team’s final fixture of the calendar year.

Enniskillen Rovers have a chance to bounce back and pick up some points at home to Omagh Albion.

 

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