Heavy defeat ends Lory cup hopes

Published 25 Jun 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Fermanagh 0-08; Donegal 3-20;

Lory Meagher Cup; Fermanagh made a tame exit from the Lory Meagher Cup on Sunday as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Donegal in Brewster Park.

By half time Rory O"Donnell"s side were already facing an uphill battle, trailing their opponents by eight points, 1-09 to 0-04, and it was a Donegal onslaught in the second half as the visitors banged in a further two goals to ease their way into the semi-finals of the competition. Fermanagh manager Rory O"Donnell accepts that his side played second fiddle to Donegal throughout the game.

'Donegal were very good and I think they will get to the final at least. The first touch from their six forwards was excellent and you can see what playing in Division Three has done for them. It is a higher quality and that showed on Sunday. Our goal for next year has to be to get out of Division Four if we want to improve. It"s not improving our hurling being in Division Four so we need to get promotion and then stay in Division Three,' commented O"Donnell.

A superior Donegal side got off to a dream start when corner forward Lee Henderson got on the end of a pass before cutting in from the right and blasting a shot to the roof of the net. Fermanagh did hit back with a point from Brendan McGarry but it was Donegal who owned the opening quarter and they went on to account for the next seven points of the contest. Kevin Campbell was successful in converting six frees while right half forward Ciaran Matthewson also pucked over a point from play to give Donegal a strong advantage.

Sean Corrigan finally ended the Fermanagh drought by popping over two points for Fermanagh while the home side were given hope when Brendan McGarry also fired over a point but the end of the half was dominated by Donegal and with Campbell registering his eighth point of the half and Niall Campbell also adding a point it left the Donegal outfit in charge at the break.

Sean Corrigan pulled a point back for Fermanagh at the start of the second half with his third of the game, and Fermanagh"s fifth, but following this Donegal went on to put the tie beyond Fermanagh with a 2-03 scoring burst.

Sean McVeigh and Ciaran Matthewson both rattled in goals for Donegal during this prolific spell while both McVeigh and Matthewson also tagged on points along with Niall Campbell to make it 3-12 to 0-05.Brendan McGarry and Karl Kehoe (2) were to fire over points for Fermanagh but Donegal continued to pile on scores at the other end, and with Kevin Campbell, McVeigh, Ger O"Dwyer among the points for the men from Donegal they managed to run out comfortable winners on the day.

Despite the disappointments of the league and then the Lory Meagher Cup, O"Donnell has enjoyed his time as manager of the Fermanagh hurlers and although he will take his time before making a decision on next year he is leaning towards staying on.

'I have to talk to different people like my family but at this stage I would hope so. I have really enjoyed working with the boys,' he said.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 25 Jun 09

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