Ladies Division One Final

Sunday September 19

Derrygonnelly v Kinawley

in Belcoo at 4pm

 

 

The Division One Ladies final will see familiar foes Kinawley and Derrygonnelly face off in a repeat of last year’s decider.
The Harps will be looking to avenge that heavy defeat and have proved in the league they are capable of turning over Kinawley, who are seeking their fourth league title on the trot.
Central to that cause will be Eimear Smyth, and the Derrygonnelly forward knows Sunday’s final presents a big challenge for the side.
“Kinawley have set the benchmark for ladies football in Fermanagh for the past five years probably so they’ll be a formidable challenge.
“We managed to get past them in the league but they were missing a few players that day out so they’ll present a massive challenge.”
Smyth said that league win was a long time coming for the Harps and believes the fact the squad are focussing more on themselves rather than the  opposition has helped.
“We were not even focussed on the fact it was Kinawley, we were focussed on our own performance and that has been the theme of it this year.
“We’ve been very much focussing on our own performances and thankfully it has worked for us this far so we will keep going and focussing on ourselves and improving all the time.”
Smyth’s fellow county player, Joanne Doonan will line out for Kinawley and she is expecting a “battle” as her side look for another league title.
“We would love to continue that streak. It will be four years if we do but Derrygonnelly have proved to us already in the league that they’re well capable of doing it. I think it is going to be a good battle on Sunday.”
And she believes the Borus will have learnt from the earlier league defeat but with the sides so familiar with each other there will be few surprises on the day.
“It brought out flaws in our game and we can only try and learn as much as possible from it.
“We don’t go into any game thinking we are going to win. We always do have that attitude that it is going to be a fight.
“That game was a good shake up for us to take what we can from it and learn from it,” said Doonan before adding: “It will just be a matter of who turns up on the day and who works harder. 
“So I can’t imagine there being too many shocks on either side.”

 

Ladies Division Two Final

Saturday September 18

Belcoo v Enniskillen

in Brookeborough at 6.30pm

Belcoo and Enniskillen will battle it out for the Division Two title this Saturday evening (6.30pm, venue to be conformed) and both managers are expecting it to be a close encounter.
The sides had identical records in making it through to the decider with four wins and a draw each - the draw coming in the meeting between the sides.
Belcoo boss Paul McGrath feels this is a game that will go to the wire to be decided.
“Ourselves and the Gaels drew when we met in the league so another tough battle will be expected on Saturday evening.
“They are an experienced side with a sprinkling of exceptionally talented youth players among their ranks. I can see it going to the wire.
“We are looking forward to it though, spirits have been high all season, the girls have put in a tremendous effort and we have been enjoying our football,” he said.
The Gaels secured their place in the final with a hard fought one point win, 3-08 to 0-16, over a quality Devenish side on Tuesday night.
The goals on the night came from Erin Tierney, Terri McCanny and Kiah Collins as they edged out the Garrison side.
Joint manager Fiacre O’Donnell feels that Saturday will be another tight affair.
“We drew with Belcoo in the league and won our other four games, and Belcoo did the same so we are very evenly matched and you would expect that it will be another good tight battle and we’re all looking forward to it.
“The club is in a good place at the minute and we have a good flow of players now coming through from our underage,” he added.
For Belcoo, the likes of Leona McNulty, Elaine Maguire and Donna Feely will be key players while Enniskillen will look to Shauna Murphy, Danielle Collins, Terri McCanny and Eimear Keenan.