John Reihill led Lisnaskea to a first Intermediate county title since 2010 on Saturday with a three-point win over Irvinestown on Brewster Park.
“Delighted,” said Reihill on the pitch at Brewster surrounded by a cluster of Emmetts' supporters.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. Irvinestown got promoted and are a good, young team.
"I thought they deserved their win in the second division although Teemore beat them in the final, but I suppose we knew we were close from the league campaign. We were close in all the games.
"In one week, we played the top three teams in Tempo, Teemore and Irvinestown. We lost all three, but we shouldn’t have.
"We knew we were close and we had been talking about improving all the time. Learning and improving, and I think we’ve done that in the championship.
"We started off playing Irvinestown and that was a draw game. Not the best game. We have improved since, so, it's not a surprise to us, that we are here.
"To get across the line is nice.” Lisnaskea led by nine points at one stage in the second half and spent the final 20 minutes defending their lead as Irvinestown pushed for a way back into the game.
“That's expected, it’s a final, the other team is not gonna give up,” the Enniskillen man said on a nervy final few moments.
“We had the lead and, I suppose, over the years, Lisnaskea are known to have given winning positions away.
"In championships, it’s about winning and getting over the line and the second half was always gonna be that way, defensive from ourselves.
"Irvinestown gave it a good go, they had a couple of goal chances, but I think our defence, with Ethan (McCaffrey), did well. It was no surprise to us, the second half.”
Tom Clarke made all the difference for Skea, netting two first-half goals. The former county player has been flying back and forth from Glasgow all year for games and Reihill admitted his presence has been a huge addition and part of his side’s success: “Massive. Like himself. Having him and Joe in midfield meant we could often press kick-outs of the opposition and, in most games, its worked very well, not as well tonight because Irvinestown are a good team and got a lot of their kick-outs away.
"We gave them up a bit in the second half, but I think in the first-half, we won something like six out of eleven maybe.
"But to have Tom there, going forward his pace, strength, experience, he’s seen as a leader but to have him and Joe in midfield is immense, definitely.”
Reihill was brought in as manager of the club in 2022 and said things around the club needed to change if the Emmetts were to progress as a club.
“It's brilliant for the club, I’m an Enniskillen man but at the same time, when I was playing myself, Lisnaskea were thee club,” he added.
“With the likes of Collie Curran and all. So, when going into Lisnaskea, I was a wee bit surprised sort of, where I felt the community wasn’t involved enough. But to see it tonight, in the droves, is great and I think it's needed in any club.
"As Joe said, even on the pitch, it gives the players a lift. Winning a trophy is huge for the community.”
Lisnaskea will now have the chance to repeat their feat of winning an All-Ireland Intermediate title after doing so in 2011.
Reihill says he is looking forward to seeing his players play in Ulster again after last year’s stint at Junior level.
“Somebody said getting into the semi-final of Fermanagh was a bonus for us, we didn’t take it that way. We’ll take it as a bonus now.
"Our target was to win the Intermediate, and do as well in the league as possible, so, I don’t mind saying now that this is bonus territory and we’ll give it a go.”
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