Extra time joy for Fermanagh

Fermanagh 1-10 Donegal 0-12

Four Masters' Barry Dunnion
on the ball for Donegal

Photo by Jason McGarrigle

Fermanagh will contest an All-Ireland quarter-final for the second consecutive year after they needed just two points in extra time to see off the challenge of Donegal, who had two men sent off over the course of the 90 minutes.
The game in Clones was delayed as the Fermanagh fans, who easily outnumbered their Donegal counterparts in a crowd of 16,340, were delayed coming in on the Lisnaskea Road. Those same fans might have worried early on whether the short trip to the Monaghan pitch was worthwhile, as Donegal raced into an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead and rattled the Erne men’s crossbar as well.
Points from Adrian Sweeney and Michael Hegarty helped Brian McEniff’s men to that early advantage, while centre-back Barry Monaghan saw his shot rebound off the cross-bar with Niall Tinney beaten in the Fermanagh goal.
Fermanagh found their range with a Colm Bradley point, before a goal put them a point ahead on 15 minutes. Tom Brewster, who was on the field as a blood substitute, broke through two tackles before laying the ball off to Eamon Maguire who slid the ball under Paul Durcan for a vital goal.
Fermanagh went in at half time leading by the minimum at the break, 1-4 to 0-6. Fermanagh kept driving on through the second half and with two minutes left of normal time they were rewarded with an equaliser as McGrath got his second point of the day.
Donegal were back to 15 players for extra time but that reprieve lasted only three minutes before Stephen McDermott made the walk to the line after receiving a second yellow card.
Amazingly, there were no further scores in the second period of extra time, despite both sides having plenty of chances to get a point. Adrian Sweeney was off target with a 13 metre free from a difficult angle two minutes into the period.
Fermanagh had a chance to wrap up the game six minutes from the end but Mark Little shot straight at Paul Durcan who easily smothered his goal-bound shot.
Michael Hegarty had Donegal’s last chance but it wasn’t to be, as Fermanagh held on for another famous win.

Interfirms Finals

Cup: Tyre Centre 3 - The Reveller 2
Shield: Village Tavern 4 - AIB 1

There was a very good crowd for finals and great football in both matches. The tournament was a big success and a great effort by all the Drumbar committee - ladies and men alike. Thanks to all the teams and firms who sponsored them.
Also our appreciation to the following: referees Liam Browne, John McGlanaghy, Michael McGroary and Barry Thomas were vital cogs in the tournament. Eamon Brogan and Liam Travers organised the linesmen. Brendan McMonagle looked after the gates - credit to all of them. The O’Donnell brothers and Stephen Carty helped - thanks to them.
A great night was had by all in the National at the presentation of the trophies. Alec Reid got Over 30s Player of Cup Tournament and Jim McLoughlin got Over 40s Player award.
Rory O’Donnell presented awards and MC’ed on the night. The pitches stood up well after good work from Conor McMonagle and Neil Thomas, who did a mighty job cutting the grass and lining pitches. Thanks again to all.
U12 playing in Eany tonight, Tuesday 27th, in cup at 7.30pm.
U16 starting training soon.
Thanks,
Paddy Brogan, PRO

Donegal Golf Club Murvagh

Since the last issue, Pat Britton’s Boys – the Junior Cup team – lost 3 and 2 to Lurgan at Castlerock, and Dylan Davitt’s Minor League Boys have also bitten the dust.
However, ‘McGinty’s Marvels’ – who now number close on 30 players, as he continually rings the changes – beat another Donegal club, Ballyliffin, in the away leg of the Ulster Fourball, by 31/2 to 11/2, which was a marvellous result. But the home leg turned into a marathon six-and-a-half-hour struggle at Murvagh recently, to get the necessary 11/2 matches.
Conal ‘Flipper’ Gallagher and Joe Cannon got the first match easily, winning 7 and 6. But they must have been nearly drunk before supper was taken, because as each of the other matches came to their concluding holes, Murvagh would lose. Ivor Stewart and Liam Cassidy lost on the 18th, as did George Hunter and John Sinclair. The stalwarts of the team, Sean Diver and Damian Hanna, also lost 2 and 1.
With the skies darkening in every sense, John Hanna and Martin Mulhern faced into the eighteenth 1 down. However, two shots to twenty feet and a putt to six inches left the Ballyliffin pair with a tricky six-foot putt to win the match overall. With their failure to sink it, Murvagh won on holes up. Perhaps Charley will re-shuffle the pack again.
Exodus to Scotland
With the British Open at Troon just across the North Channel, many of the club’s golfers took the opportunity to see the best in the world perform. On arrival at Edinburgh Airport, several of them did a piece for BBC Scotland and are now TV personalities.
Recent Competitions
George Hunter (19) made a welcome return to the winners’ rostrum on Sunday week last at Donegal Golf Club Murvagh, when he easily won the Cameo Jewellers’ prize with thirty-eight Stableford points.
Danny McMenamin (12) the winner of the Wesley Irvine Memorial with forty-two points on the twelfth of July, continued his good golf, being runner-up to George with thirty-six points.
A twenty-two handicapper, James Shovelin was the surprise winner of last weekend’s Kevin Britton memorial trophy with 35 pts in atrocious weather conditions of wind and rain.
Pauric Mulloly came out of the mist and rain to take the runner-up award, three points behind James on a break of tie, while George Moody won Saturday’s section.
Friday’s charity for Conquer Cancer was won by Captain’s prize winner Anne Short and Micky ‘Duck’ Gallagher.
Wesley Irvin Memorial
1. Danny McMenamin (13) 42 pts, 2. 2. MI. Neary (8) 39 pts, 3. Charley Callaghan (13) 38 pts, 4. G. Bradley (21) 38pts, Gross: Tom Douglas (1) Lurgan 34 pts. Cameo Jewellers 1. George Hunter (13) 42 pts, 2. Danny Mc Menamin (12) 36 pts, 3. Tom McWhinnie (18) 36 pts, 4. Hugh O’Connor (9) 36pts. Kevin Britton Memorial Trophy
1. James Shovelin (22) 35pts, Sat – 1. George Moody (12) 30 pts, 2. Micky Gallagher (13) 29pts, Sun 1. Pauric Mullooly (14) 32pts, 2. Edward Canney (13) 32pts, 3. Michael Neary (8) 32pts.