Ethan Webb and Enniskillen Gaels Conor Millar race for the loose ball during the quarter-final
Enniskillen played Derrygonnelly twice in the league this season and came up short on both occasions.
Don’t let that fool you though. The Gaels took on one of the other early favourites for u-16 honours in the quarter-finals, Erne Gaels. The Belleek outfit had already recorded a handsome victory over Enniskillen in the league stages and boasted seven county minor title winning players.
What happened next? Well the county town men tore into Erne Gaels like a day’s work, running into a 12 point lead at one stage before easing off the gas and allowing Belleek to close to within four points of them.
And while that victory over final fancies gives Enniskillen justified hope, their semi-final against Tempo will have sown some doubts.
They had a seven point advantage at the break in that game, but the Maguires closed it down to two half way through the second 30. A goalkeeping error handed Matthew Dixon a goal-scoring chance which he took with aplomb to finally kill the Tempo fight-back.
While Derrygonnelly have reached the final with some comfort, Enniskillen have been well-tested by tough opposition. If Derrygonnelly have any chinks in their armour they will be finding out about them on Sunday and changing a hitherto successful game-plan on the fly is an extremely difficult thing to do, as Dublin discovered in the All-Ireland semi-final. Enniskillen have the equipment to pose the Harps some serious questions.
Timmy Boyd’s attacking talents are well chronicled at this stage, but Eoin Donnelly is also sharp while John Reihill was the key marksman against Belleek, hitting 2-1.
At the back Tom Hughes-Jordan has two impressive performances behind him and will have his hands full with a highly rated Derrygonnelly attack. Tempo manager Jamie Campbell also highlighted the strength of Enniskillen’s midfield as a key asset.
Looking forward to the final Enniskillen Gaels manager Michael Sheridan pointed to Derrygonnelly’s experience of the minor final as a plus point in their favour. The Gaels have a few knocks and niggles to contend with, but Sheridan was hoping to have a full hand to deal from come county final day.
ROUTE TO THE FINAL
Semi-finals
Derrygonnelly 4-15 St Patrick’s 0-6
Enniskillen Gaels 3-16 Tempo 2-10
Quarter-finals
Enniskillen Gaels 3-9 Erne Gaels 3-5
St Patrick’s 9-17 Derrylin 3-8
Tempo 2-10 Lisnaskea 2-7
Derrygonnelly 3-20 Irvinestown 2-7
First Round
Derrylin 7-12 Maguiresbridge 2-6
Erne Gaels 3-18 Kinawley 1-3
Lisnaskea 5-9 St Joseph’s 4-4
Irvinestown W/O
Semi-final Enniskillen Gaels team v Tempo
Ronan Beattie; Conor Millar, Tom Hughes-Jordan, Ciaran Fee; Johnny Cassidy, Nathan Tierney, Patrick Keaney; Darragh Keaney, Conal Quinn; Matthew Dixon, Eoin Beacom, Gavin Greene; Timmy Boyd, Eoin Donnelly, John Reihill.
Semi-final Derrygonnelly side v St Patrick’s
Oisin Smith; Adrian Maguire, Conor Cameron, Stephen Leonard; Conor Maguire, James McGrail, Aaron McGloin; Shane McGullion, Oran McBrien; Aidan McKenna, Nathan Jones, Gavin McGovern; Jack Love, Colm Jones, Ryan Mor McGovern.