HAVING your predecessor as manager peering over your shoulder can often be an uncomfortable experience but Seamus Ryder played a huge part in Declan Bonner taking a monkey off Belleek’s back.
For much of the second half it looked like Derrygonnelly mightn’t even need their traditional late sucker-punch to knock out Erne Gaels but the latter’s former boss Ryder came off the bench to score two crucial points and win a tight, tense tussle for them.
His second score gave the Belleek men that ‘dangerous lead’ of two points in added time but although free-taker Gary McKenna halved Derrygonnelly’s deficit the Harps could not find the goal needed to hold onto their crown.
Instead Erne Gaels head into their third consecutive final, up against their namesakes from Enniskillen who beat them comfortably in the decider two years ago.
Former Donegal boss Bonner admitted he was concerned that history was going to repeat itself against the Harps, who had pipped Belleek yet again earlier in this Championship to go straight into the last four.
His charges dominated the first half but only led by two, 0-6 to 0-4 – then failed to score at all until the 23rd minute of the second period, by which time Derrygonnelly had gone ahead for the first time.
“100 per cent we were worried,” said Bonner. “We only scored one point in the second half against Derrygonnelly in the group stages, when we were leading by four points at half-time – but ultimately we got some brilliant scores in the last 10 minutes.”
Wing-back Oisin Kelm got Erne Gaels going, drawing the sides level, and his younger brother Aogan put them further ahead, but it was the two scores from Ryder which really caught the eye and changed the game.
Belleek had played patient, possession football but their game lacked pace in the final third. Ryder did not provide that, but he offered the direct route, and that took them past Derrygonnelly at last, to the delight of Bonner:
“We knew the game would open up in that final quarter – and we knew if we could get opportunities for Seamie he’s well capable of kicking the scores, he’s done it down the years. Delighted for Seamie.”
Derrygonnelly were understandably disconsolate to lose, especially in their centenary year. There was a short bout of pushing and shoving on the pitch when the referee blew the long whistle rather than awarding a free they felt they deserved when it looked like the ball was touched on the ground by a Belleek defender.
However, the Harps quickly shook hands, and similarly a beaming Bonner made no apologies for the hot and heavy exchanges on the sideline throughout this close contest:
“Why not? It’s the semi-final of a Championship, why wouldn’t it be? It was a real proper Championship game, both teams left everything on the pitch there.”
Even though Erne Gaels dethroned Enniskillen in last year’s semi-finals, they’ll know they will require an improved performance if they’re to become Fermanagh senior champions for the first time since 1981.
They obviously finished this match strongly, and also began it well, but in between they made heavy weather of winning on a sunny day.
After going three points to nil ahead after 10 minutes, Belleek helped Derrygonnelly to open their account through Gary McKenna by kicking the ball back and away to Harps hands.
The energy of Brian Mullin and Barry McCann around midfield helped them regain control, but at times their tackling was too enthusiastic and McKenna’s free-taking kept the scoreline close.
Indeed Derrygonnelly could even have gone in ahead at half-time when Rory-Joe Duffy’s punched effort looped over goalkeeper Brian Ryder only for midfielder Michael Og McGarrigle to scoop the ball off the goal-line.
There was little such drama in the second half, but the Harps soon dragged themselves closer, and even went in front 10 minutes in with yet another free from McKenna.
After recording no wides before the break, Belleek began to waste opportunities, including Shane Rooney dragging a mark wide.
However, their captain Ryan Lyons stood up in defence, then set up that equaliser for Oisin Kelm, before Seamus Ryder came on to guide them to the final stage yet again.
Derrygonnelly: J Kell (0-1 free); A Jones, O Smyth, M Jones; R McHugh, A McKenna, N Maguire; R McGovern, Stephen McGullion; G McGovern (0-1), Shane McGullion (capt.), D Greene; R-J Duffy, L Jones (0-1), G McKenna (0-6, 0-5 frees).
Substitutes: D Cassidy for Duffy (45); R McGovern for Maguire (57); J Flanagan for McHugh (61); C McGovern for A McKenna (61).
Erne Gaels: B Ryder; S Mimna, J McCann, U O’Reilly (0-1); P Ward (0-1), O Kelm (0-1), R Lyons (capt.) (0-1); B Mullin, M Og McGarrigle; D McCann, B McCann (0-1 45), M Gilfedder; T McCafferty, S Rooney (0-1), U Kelm (0-1 free).
Substitutes: A Kelm (0-1) for Gilfedder (h-t); O Johnston for B McCann (42); P Johnston for Ward (44); S Ryder (0-2) for McGarrigle (50); C Keown for Mimna (54).
Referee: Eoin Murphy (Derrylin).
