Enniskillen 1-10 Tempo 2-06

Conor McShea landed a point in added on time as Enniskillen Gaels edged out Tempo in a tight and physical encounter in Ederney on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash against Belnaleck in ten days time.

Tempo had come from six points down in the first half to get their noses in front going into the final quarter but it was Enniskillen who were to come through as Richard O’Callaghan picked out the unmarked McShea and he popped over the bar to secure the victory for the Gaels.

Both sides will feel that they left chances out on the pitch and Enniskillen goalkeeper Cian Newman pulled off two good saves at vital times in the second half when the game was in the balance as his side just shaded it in the end to take the win.

Enniskillen coach Simon Bradley felt that Tempo brought a big challenge to the table on Sunday.

“It was a step up in terms of physicality and I think it shows truly were Tempo are.

“If you look at their league season they lost a lot of games by the minimum margin or by two points and we weren’t justified going in their as hot favourites as Tempo were always going to do that to us and some of their big players really put it up to us,” he said.

He was happy though that the players answered some of the questions hanging over them.

“Certainly there was question marks about whether or not we could do it in championship and then about whether we had enough people on the pitch to take that leadership role and I think some of the lads on the pitch stepped up and not just kicked good scores at crucial times but made good tackles and won breaking ball. They definitely played as well as they could for a first senior championship game,” he added.

However, he knows that they cannot afford to be as wasteful next day out against Belnaleck.

“We were looking at our shooting percentages and stats don’t lie, our shooting percentage was down in the 40s and that is not good enough.

“We created good chances but didn’t finish them - it wasn’t players shooting from the wrong places, they didn’t, they just didn’t finish them. I think we had eight poor wides and in championship football you just can’t afford to have that.”

A couple of those wides came early in the game before Tempo opened the scoring through a Lorcan McStravick free.

McStravick had a great tussle with impressive Enniskillen full back James Ferguson throughout the contest.

The Gaels levelled up matters through a good effort from John Reihill before midfielder Eoin Beacom drilled over a ‘45 to end a cagey opening quarter by edging Enniskillen into a 0-02 to 0-01 lead at the water-break.

Enniskillen then looked to have taken a grip on proceedings as they hit 1-02 in a two minute spell to move into a six point lead.

Conor Love slotted over a free and from the kick out Beacom won possession and the ball was worked into the left hand corner were Love skipped around Conor Foy before fisting over the bar.

And Beacom again claimed the next kick out with the ball eventually fed to Johnny Cassidy who spun away from Aidan Breen before tucking a low finish to the net to make it 1-04 to 0-01.

At this stage, Tempo were rocking but a McStravick free saw them account for their second score of the game before they were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute.

The influential Aidan Breen had a driving run from midfield and he laid the ball on to Bogue who was upended by Aaron Nolan as he made his way through on goal.

From the resultant penalty McStravick produced an emphatic finish as Tempo closed the gap back to two points.

Enniskillen though had the last say of the half as Brandon Horan popped the ball to Conall Quinn and he fired over on the run to leave it 1-05 to 1-02 at the break.

The Gaels stretched their lead out to four on the resumption as Love clipped over a free but Tempo replied with a McStravick mark.

This was then followed by the Maguires second goal in the 39th minute. Bogue flicked on a Matthew Jackson kick out to Ryan Breen and he laid the ball out to Aidan Breen who was coming off his shoulder with Breen holding off Horan before smashing the ball into the top corner to level up the tie.

And the Maguires had the chance to grab another goal moments later as Bogue got through but he took a heavy touch and Newman tapped the ball away as Enniskillen cleared their lines.

The Gaels nudged back in front through a John Reihill free but Aidan Breen responded with a superb effort before McStravick also rifled over to put the Maguires a point to the good at the water-break.

The sides were level again soon after the resumption as John Reihill converted a free from the left but at the other end Tempo again threatened a goal as McStravick’s attempt at a point looked to be dropping into the corner of the net only for Newman to push it around the post.

It was end to end in the closing stages with both sides guilty of giving away possession but a good run and point from Beacom put Enniskillen a point up.

Back though came Tempo and Aidan Breen levelled from an acute angle although the Maguires were then reduced to 14 men as Bogue picked up a second yellow card.

And then came the winning point as O’Callaghan, who was immense for Enniskillen in the last quarter, picked out McShea and he knocked over to send Enniskillen through.