Gaels’ know-how sees them into last eight

Editorial Department • Published 12 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Aidan McCarron goes down under a heavy challenge as the Gaels progressed past Kinawley on Friday evening.

Enniskillen 2-08; Kinawley 1-06;

Enniskillen secured their passage into the last eight of the Quinn Insurance Senior Football Championship with a five point victory over Kinawley in Lisnaskea on Friday evening.

Gerry Love’s side though were made to battle for their win and it was only in the second half when they began to take control of the game with their experienced players coming to the fore.

They will though have to produce an improved performance if they are to go any further in the competition with Erne Gaels set to provide them with a stern test in the next round.

The Gaels led by three at the interval but it was not a convincing first half display with Kinawley more than holding their own in the possession stakes as they dominated the breaking ball in the middle third.

A Ronan McCabe goal however divided the sides at the break, Mattie Keenan latching onto a mistake by the otherwise impressive Niall Bogue before playing the ball across goal for McCabe to finish.

Shaun Doherty had kept Kinawley in touch with a number of good points in the opening half but with Mickey Lilly, Ryan McCluskey and Tom Brewster becoming more prominent Enniskillen took over. Sean Swift rattled the back of the Kinawley net for a second Enniskillen goal and although Kinawley responded with a goal from Sean Crudden, the Gaels were able to see out the game for the win.

The opening spell of the game was evenly contested with the sides knocking over one point apiece, Mattie Keenan lofting over a free for Enniskillen and Sean Crudden replying with a converted free for Kinawley.

However, Enniskillen were to strike the first blow of the encounter when McCabe fired in the opening goal of the contest. Niall Bogue let a ball slip through his hands and Keenan siezed on it. He drove towards goal before picking out McCabe and he tucked the ball to the back of the net to make it 1-01 to 0-01 with nine minutes played.

And the Gaels went close to registering a second goal as Keenan rattled a shot off the post.

Kinalwey though were shading the possession with Sean Leonard getting through a lot of work at midfield and Doherty hit back with a point for Cathal Murphy’s outfit although two Keenan frees nudged Enniskillen into a four point advantage.

Sean Crudden then clipped over after he collected a ball broke into his path by Doherty, and Doherty closed the gap to two points with his second of the day.

Conor Kelly and Keenan restored the four point lead but a well struck long range free from Doherty in added on time at the end of the half left the goal separating the sides at the break, 1-05 to 0-05.

Keenan lofted over a fine point early in the second half before Enniskillen took a firm grip on matters as Swift netted their second goal. A patient build up saw Enniskillen retain possession before McCluskey picked out Swift and he arrowed a shot into the corner of the net to make it 2-06 to 0-05.

Kinawley though struck a goal of their own a minute later when Ruairi Corrigan did well to create a chance for Crudden and he dispatched his shot past Chris Breen to bring Kinawley back into contention.

Kinawley did try to eat further into the Gaels lead as they tested the Enniskillen full back line with a number of high balls but Mickey Lilly did a fine job in curbing the influence of Doherty and it was Enniskillen who went on to pull away with Conor Kelly lobbing over and McCabe angling over a terrific free.

Doherty did have a point late in the day for Kinawley but by that stage Enniskillen had done enough to claim the victory.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Aug 10

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