IN the end the scoreline tells its own tale. Enniskillen Gaels deservedly collected their first minor championship title in 17 years. That same year they won the first of their six in a row senior championships. The Gaels are in a very different place now but this group of young players represents a good portion of their hope for the future over the next five to ten years.

Enniskillen Gaels joint manager, Brendy Dooris was obviously delighted with the result: “It has been 17 years for the Gaels. So it was so important we win one but to be honest it was probably more of a big deal for myself and John (Reihill joint manager) and for the club. For the cubs they are well used to winning and they were expecting to win.” Against Erne Gaels on Tuesday night they simply had too much all over the pitch. The Belleek outfit came with a very definite game plan in mind and dropped two men back to play in defence but their night could not have got off to a worse possible start when they conceded a goal right form the throw in.

For Enniskillen this set the tone for the whole evening. Eoin Beacom broke the ball in the middle of the field and Michael Dooris swept it forward to Conall Quinn who placed Neil McDermott in on goal and he made no mistake with an excellent finish.

To their credit Erne Gaels rallied and they did have a 10 minute period where they put Enniskillen under pressure but in truth the defence held firm with 15-year-old Johnny Cassidy in brilliant form at corner back.

Luke Ryder was a handful in the Erne Gaels midfield and he scored one of his side’s first half points with Rory McGarrigle notching the other.

But it was to be a dominant display from an Enniskillen side who produced a very impressive overall team performance. Pushing an extra man into attack they still had Ciaran Smith left sweeping and he mopped up a lot of possession.

Points in the first half for Enniskillen came from John Reihill, Quinn, McDermott, Brendan Lilly and Conor Goodwin. Goodwin was to enjoy a very productive hour with the county minor dictating matters for much of the game.

1-06 to 0-02 up at the break Enniskillen were in command and it was going to take something of a miracle for Erne Gaels to come back and take the title.

The fast start they needed never materialised and instead Enniskillen kept chipping away at the scores. For Erne Gaels Michael Óg McGarrigle was a powerful figure in the middle of the field. Winning a lot of primary possession in the middle he sometimes lacked the support around him with a swarm of Enniskillen jerseys always quick to engulf him.

Enniskillen were able to empty the bench and one player who really caught the eye was Ronan Quinn who would score 1-01 in an impressive 15 cameo. He got on the end of a flowing move that started off with the impressive Jay Howe in the Enniskillen goal. Eight passes later Quinn flashed the ball past Keith Tivnan in the Belleek goal.

Goodwin, McDermott and Beacom with the point of the day off the outside of the right foot raised white flags for the Gaels who will now go on to represent Fermanagh in the Ulster Minor Club Tournament at St Paul’s in Belfast.

The competition does not get going until December time but joint Gaels manager Dooris is adamant that his young charges will be going into that first round fixture with ambitions of winning the game: “It will be very difficult for us because other counties will be playing their minor championship right up to the start of the tournament but we will just have to set a programme up closer to the time and make sure we are ready. One thing is for sure we are going to go up there looking to be very, very competitive.” Enniskillen: Jason Howe, Nathan Tierney, Conor Carney, Jonathan Cassidy, Ciaran Smith, Edward Boyd, Headon Hughes-Jordan, Michael Dooris, Eoin Beacom (0-01), Neil McDermott (1-04), Conall Quinn (0-02), Conor Goodwin (0-02), Brendan Lilley (0-01), Nathan Stewart, John Reihill (0-01). Subs: Aaron Nolan, Ronan Quinn (1-01), Dara Keaney, Ronan Beattie, Patrick Cassidy.

Erne Gaels: Kevin Tivnan, Michael Heron, Colm Keown, Damien McGovern, Conor Gormley, Joshua McMorrow, Dara Dolan, Michael Og McGarrigle, Luke Ryder (0-01), Rory McGarrigle (0-01), Gareth Deery, Ethan Webb, Brian Ryder, Oran Gallagher, Ben McCann. Subs: James O’Shea, Josh O’Shea and Damien Mullane.

Referee: Joseph Corcoran (Brookeborough).