Aghadrumsee 2-12 Tempo 2-11 (aet)

Aghadrumsee secured the O’Neill’s Fermanagh IFC title by the narrowest of margins following a thrilling encounter against Tempo in Roslea on Sunday.

A ding-dong tussle saw the game swing one way then the other and after 60 minutes the sides could not be separated.

And it remained tight throughout extra time but it was the Magpies who managed to get their noses in front and they stayed there to the end with a single point dividing them at the final whistle.

The teams traded early points with Sarah Jane Flanagan opening the scoring for Aghadrumsee before Nuala Curan replied for Tempo. The Maguires though then struck for the first goal of the game as a long ball in from Cadhla Bogue broke into the path of her sister Blaithin and she confidently slotted the ball to the net to give Tempo the early advantage.

Indeed, the gap was out to four by the ninth minute as Megan Hamilton clipped over a fine point from an acute angle.

Back came Aghadrumsee and Dearbhla Murray converted a free before the Magpies then bagged a goal of their own. Laura Grew did well to collect a long ball in and she tucked it to the net to level up matters at 1-02 apiece after 25 minutes.

The introduction of Aoife Flanagan had helped Aghadrumsee gain a strong footing in the middle of the park and although they registered a couple of wides, they did take the lead when the lively Aoife McCabe jinked her way around a couple of challenges before knocking over.

Tempo though were back on level terms as good work by Shannan McQuade saw her tee up Eva Finlay McGovern and she fired over to leave it 1-03 to 1-03 at half time.

The period after the break belonged to Aghadrumsee as they looked to open up a gap between the sides. Murray accounted for the first score of the half and this was followed by a point from Blaithin McAleer to put two between the sides.

Tempo did have a goal chance when Finlay McGovern fed the ball across the goal and Cora McCaughey got a touch but under pressure from an Aghadrumsee defender the ball went past the post and wide.

It appeared that the Magpies were in the driving seat when they were awarded a penalty in the 39th minute. Scott played in McCabe but she was taken down by Tempo defender Molly Flynn with referee Nigel Sweeney giving the spot kick. Grew stepped up and fired to the roof of the net to put Aghadrumsee five clear, 2-05 to 1-03.

The response to this from Tempo was impressive as they gained the upper-hand with McQuade a driving force. Blaithin Bogue landed two frees and this was quickly followed by a second goal for the Maguires. McQuade picked up a breaking ball from a kick out and her long ball in was met by Finlay McGovern who calmly palmed it to the net to tie up the contest.

Bogue missed a free she would normally convert as Tempo continued to dominate but she did slot over moments later after being set up by McQuade to nudge the Maguires ahead.

And Tempo then had two goal chances to cement their position but McCaughey pushed one wide before the same player was denied by Sarah Keenan in the Aghadrumsee goal.

In between those two chances, Ava Crudden landed a point to tie up matters once again before a frenetic finish to the game that saw Tempo lead three times only to be pegged back on each occasion.

Bogue knocked over a free but Sarah McCarville replied before Grew missed a chance to edge Aghadrumsee ahead going into added-on time.

An excellent point by McQuade again put Tempo ahead in added-on time only for McCabe to reply but it looked as if Bogue had won it for her side when she produced a strong run and super point deep, deep in injury time.

The referee though allowed Aghadrumsee one last attack and they won a free which Murray popped over to level at 2-09 each and send the game to extra time.

The Maguires suffered a blow two minutes into the first period when they had Cadhla Bogue red carded after an off-the-ball incident although it was Tempo who again nosed in front as Finlay McGovern stroked over a lovely point.

However, two points from Murray – one a free and one from play – put Aghadrumsee ahead by one at half time in extra time.

That lead was then pushed out to two early in the second period as Flanagan fired over although she was then sent to the sin bin after picking up a yellow card.

Tempo pushed hard in the closing stages for a way back into the game but a Bogue effort at goal from a free fizzed over the bar as Aghadrumsee held on for the win.