Late Brewster points fires Gaels into semis

Editorial Department • Published 26 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Tom Brewster was on fine form for Enniskillen last Sunday against Erne Gaels.

Enniskillen 1-14; Erne Gaels 2-09

A late surge took Enniskillen into the last four the Quinn Insurance Senior Football Championship in Irvinestown on Sunday night as they battled back from three points down to claim the win.

With ten minutes left to play Erne Gaels held the upperhand as a Seamus Ryder goal helped them to a 2-09 to 1-09 advantage but a strong finishing spurt by Enniskillen saw them bang over five unanswered points to overturn the deficit and win by two.

In the end a depleted Gaels side just about deserved their victory with their extra experience helping them over the line against a determined and committed Erne Gaels outfit.

Gerry Love’s side showed plenty of character having trailed by four points at one stage in the first half and having clawed that back they then had to fight back from three down as the game reached a conclusion.

However, a massive improvement is going to be required from Enniskillen if they are to compete with championship favourites Roslea in the semi-final.

The Belleek side were the livelier of the teams in the opening exchanges. Brian Mullin clipped over a long range score only for Mattie Keenan to reply for Enniskillen from a free.

Mark Lyons lofted over Erne Gaels second point and they then moved two points clear when Seamus Ryder chipped over a free after Neil Cox was penalised for overcarrying.

Erne Gaels seemed to be finding it to easy to break through the middle of the Enniskillen defence although it was Love’s side who hit the next three scores. Aidan McCarron fired over following a strong run and Keenan then converted a free to make it 0-03 to 0-03. A good pass from Michael Kerr then set up Keenan to drive over as Enniskillen took the lead for the first time.

Their advantage though was short lived as back again came Erne Gaels and Ryan Lyons knocked over a good score before Ryder kicked a free to edge the Belleek outfit in front.

And they looked to have taken a grip on matters in the 21st minute as they registered the opening goal of the encounter. Ryder collected possession in the right hand corner of the pitch and his ball across goal was met by Mark Duffy who punched it past Chris Breen to the back of the net to make it 1-05 to 0-04.

Keenan pulled a point back with a well struck free but Mark O’Shea again exposed gaps in the Enniskillen defence as he raced through the heart of the back line to fire over.

Points from Conor Kelly and James McKenna saw Enniskillen reduce the deficit back to two points but a converted Ryder free in injury time saw Erne Gaels go in at the break with a three point lead, 1-07 to 0-07.

That lead however was wiped out inside the opening minute of the second half as McCarron’s free was misjudged by the Erne Gaels goalkeeper and defence and the ball dropped into the back of the net to level the contest.

And when Conor Kelly notched a fine score soon after the game looked to be swinging the way of Enniskillen as they moved into a one point lead, 1-08 to 1-07.

Enniskillen’s great start to the half was to suffer a blow though when Mattie Keenan was given his marching orders by referee Noel Davis on the say so of lineman Martin Higgins after an incident involving Belleek’s Damian Lyons.

Barry McCann for Erne Gaels and James McKenna for Enniskillen traded points while Enniskillen goalkeeper Chris Breen pulled off a good save as Belleek threatened a second goal.

The numbers were to be evened up in the 45th minute as Belleek’s Shane Lyons was dismissed following an altercation with McCarron, linesman Seamus Breen bring the matter to Davis’ attention on this occasion.

It was Erne Gaels though who reacted best to being down to 14 men when they scored their second goal. A high hopeful ball across the goal was called for by Breen but Ryder got his fist to the ball first to direct it into the corner of the net.

Boosted by this, Erne Gaels stretched their lead to three when Ryan Lyons accounted for his second point of the day, and with ten to go Enniskillen had it all to do as they trailed 2-09 to 1-09.

The side showed all their experience in the final stages however as they refused to panic. The excellent Tom Brewster rattled over a free to leave two between them and his midfield partner McCarron closed the gap to the minimum.

Young full forward Brian McAleer blzed over the bar when through on goal to tie the game at 1-12 to 2-09 and as the game reached a conclusion Brewster kept his cool to slot over two frees as Enniskillen scrapped into the semi-finals.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 26 Aug 10

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