Ederney 0-09 Enniskillen 2-08

Enniskillen Gaels opened up their Club Players Competition campaign with a five point win away to Ederney on Sunday.

A John Reihill goal had helped Simon Bradley’s charges into a three point half time advantage, 1-04 to 0-04, and a Callum Jones goal six minutes from time ended any hopes that Ederney had of taking anything out of the game.

Gaels manager Bradley was pleased to get off to a winning start.

“It’s nice to get a win from the opening game and we were able to blood a lot of players.

“We had three players who made their debuts and it was good to have Conor McAleer back and to get James O’Donnell and Nathan Tierney back on the pitch. Overall, we’re pleased with how it went,” he said.

Both sides went into the game without a number of what would be considered first choice players but Enniskillen had the first big chance of the game when Jones was put through but he fired wide of Chris Snow’s goal.

It was Snow who opened the scoring when he landed a long range free in the eighth minute and there was 14 minutes on the clock before Ennskillen registered their first point which came from a Richard O’Callaghan mark.

Ederney edged back ahead through a point from Lughaidh Donnelly but Enniskillen went on to take control after this with Jones rattling over two frees before O’Donnell swung over a good effort from play.

The away side carried a goal scoring threat in the opening half and Jones picked out McAleer in space but his shot crashed off the crossbar.

It was only a reprieve though for Ederney as John Reihill had the ball in the net in the 27th minute.

Jones fed Paddy Reihill and although his effort was saved by Snow the ball broke to John Reihill who had the simple task of tapping into the empty net to make it 1-04 to 0-02.

Ederney though did finish the half well and two points from Pól McKervey frees left the goal dividing the sides at the interval.

Enniskillen started the second half on the front foot and scores from Neil McDermott and Aaron Nolan nudged them five in front but Ederney enjoyed a good spell after this with McKervey kicking a point from play and another from a free while Paul McCusker also slotted over a free to bring them back to within two points.

The Gaels response was two frees from Reihill but when Donnelly rattled over his second point of the game it left three between them with ten minutes to go.

The game though was put to bed in the 54th minute as good work by O’Callaghan released Jones and he slammed the ball to the net to make it 2-08 to 0-08.

McCusker did land a late free for Ederney but it was only a consolation score as Enniskillen ran out five point winners.