Erne Gaels manager Seamus Ryder admits that he thought that there chances of reaching the championship final were gone as they found themselves two points down deep in added on time.

Then came a late high ball which resulted in a penalty and Shane Rooney calmly converted to send the Belleek men through to the decider.

“We’re delighted to get there,” said Ryder. “Obviously, I thought it was gone there, I just said one more ball into box and we got the penalty and we’ll take it. We got a bit of luck but if you keep giving yourself the chance to be there you will come out on the right side of it.”

Having played with the breeze in the first half, Ryder felt his side were in a good position as they moved four points clear but a Paul Breen goal five minutes before the break put a different complexion on it at half time.

“There was a strong breeze and we probably needed a four or five point lead so I was happy when we were four ahead. The goal I wouldn’t have been happy with it, it was a miscommunication and it happens but it left us with a one point lead at half time after we had the majority of play in the first half. We knew it was going to be tough in the second half,” he added.

Kinawley went on to have the better of the second half exchanges although they missed a few opportunities and it kept the Belleek men in the hunt before the late goal.

“We knew if we stuck in there we would get a chance. They missed a few chances but we’ll take it,” he stated.

Now, a final against Enniskillen awaits on October 23 and Ryder is expecting a big test.

“They were impressive (against Derrygonnelly) and our games against Enniskillen are 100 mile an hour stuff. There are some serious match ups and some serious attacking football played and I just hope that we come out the right end of it, by hook or by crook.”

Kinawley though were left with a bitter taste in the mouth as they felt that they were denied a place in the final when a hop ball was not awarded after they believed the ball hit off referee Barry Monaghan in the lead up to the penalty decision.

“I suppose the way the game ended was devastating really,” said Kinawley selector Barry Maguire.

“We had worked hard to get ourselves into a good position with only a minute or two of injury time left. Then, in my opinion, the defining moment of the game was when we had made a great block and then the ball bounced and just skidded and hit off the referee’s foot when we had a man coming in and he was trying to collect it and at that stage it should have been a hop ball. But instead the game went on and ultimately that led to the penalty that won the game” he explained.

And he says that they have been left gutted but stresses that they are proud of the players efforts throughout the year.

“It was gutting for the whole group, when you consider the commitment and the sacrifices that are made by all involved in order to try and make a championship final, but with that said we are extremely proud of all the boys and how they performed this year.”