Leitrim stand in way of All Ireland success

Editorial Department • Published 15 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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The Fermanagh Minor Ladies players and management who have made it through to the All Ireland Minor B Shield final.

Wicklow 1-09; Fermanagh 6-06;

A six goal blitz secured Fermanagh's place in the All Ireland final next Saturday, July 24 against Leitrim. The Erne ladies benefitted from the breeze in the opening half and were first to get on the score sheet. A well taken goal from Nuala McManus gave Fermanagh the perfect start in this semi final. Wicklow did respond with two points but Fermanagh were controlling proceedings all over the pitch. 1-04 without reply from the Erne ladies opened up a significant lead. Shauna Murphy was on hand to breach the Wicklow rearguard as she netted her side's second goal of the afternoon.

Wicklow responded with a couple of points but Maura McDonald and Joanne Doonan nullified the Leinster ladies' efforts with two points before the half time whistle. At the break Fermanagh held a 2-06 to 0-04 lead.

Wicklow made a blistering start to the second half and put Fermanagh under increasing pressure. Their efforts were rewarded with a goal and two points. Meabh Deeny, with an unstoppable shot to beat Donna Owens in nets. This left the score 2-06 to 1-06 in favour of Fermanagh.

The Erne ladies won the kick out and worked the ball up the field to Nuala McManus. With the goal in her sights she beat the keeper and netted her second goal of the afternoon to put some distance between the teams. Wicklow's response was immediate though and from Owens' kick out they won possession and lofted over a point. Fermanagh's attack was in ferocious form though and Maura McDonald was on hand with Fermanagh's fourth goal of the day. Wicklow continued to apply pressure and had it not been for a great save from Owens in nets they could have reduced the deficit.

Ashling Maguire and Naoimhin Daly were controlling the midfield sector and the supply of ball into the forwards was good. Kinawley's Joanne Doonan made it 5-06 for Fermanagh with a superb goal before Maura McDonald finished Fermanagh's scoring with a sixth goal. The half forward found herself underneath a high ball played into the edge of the square and she instinctively punched the ball to the back of the Wicklow net. Wicklow managed a consolation point before the final whistle but it was Fermanagh who ran out resounding winners to the delight of the Fermanagh manager Anthony Murphy.

"The girls were magnificent. Up to that game we had been creating chances but hadn't been putting them away. It wasn't easy going to Bray to play a big, strong team like Wicklow. We had our homework done and it paid off."

Reaching the All Ireland final is a first for any Fermanagh Minor team. Whilst the U-16s lost out to Waterford in the All Ireland decider last year Murphy is hoping his side can go on finish off with the title.

"If the girls play to their potential there's no reason why we can't win. At the start of the year we told this bunch of girls if they put in the effort they were capable of reaching an All Ireland final. Hopefully now they can go on and win because a lot of these girls have been in so many finals and lost them. To see them win would be great, it would definitely be a monkey off their back," says Murphy.

Only Leitrim stand in Fermanagh's way of winning an All Ireland. The challenge they present is not underestimated by the manager.

"They (Leitrim) are very strong. They have a couple of county senior players, namely Aisling Tighe who scored 2-09 in the Division 4 league final against Limerick. In the National league game against Offaly she scored 5-06 so we know what we're up against," concludes Murphy.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 15 Jul 10

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