Fermanagh Premiers 2
Skouted 3
By Aaron Hazzard
Fermanagh Premier’s final group match had everything: five goals, a stunning free kick, a red card, and late drama.
Unfortunately, for the Ernemen, they were on the receiving end of a cruel double sucker punch.
A Callum St. Ledger penalty midway through the first half put the Erne county in the driving seat, before a low driven finish by Ryan Gjini drew the game level.
Oisin Keenen scored a stunning free-kick with seven minutes to play which looked like it was enough to seal the Premiers first win of the week. However, two goals in injury time from Leon Bergin and Daniel Dixon sent the Skouted dugout into raptures and left Fermanagh with nothing to show for in a display that deserved much more.
Skouted had the first chance of note in the tie, but Isaac Ehikhamhen couldn’t keep his effort down.
A low free-kick from Alfie Kelly had Tadhg Kernaghan down low to make the stop at the far post, but Fermanagh managed the early stages of the tie well and were presented with a glorious chance to take the lead in the 18th minute.
Fionn Stroud, who worked tirelessly throughout the tie, found St. Ledger in the box before he was upended by Skouted shot stopper Jack Blood.
It was the cold blooded captain St. Ledger, who stepped up and coolly slotted home from 12 yards to open the scoring.
Fermanagh were on top and only for some heroic defending were unfortunate not to grab a second. Stroud again involved, this time playing Ethan Byrne, who flashed an effort across the face of the goal. The loose ball was picked up by Rhys McGourty whose first time strike was somehow deflected out for a corner and the resulting danger cleared.
Against the run of play, Skouted equalised just before the break.
The ball was lost up field and the Academy side were strong in transition and a strong individual dribble by Gjini preceded a low driving effort just beyond Kernaghan and into the corner.
Skouted came out strong in the second half, with Solarin Kolawole Adeyinka cutting an effort wide, Aaron Junior O’Neill flashing over and the sharp Chinonso Eze driving another chance just over the bar.
The game was set-up for a grandstand finish. With 10 minutes to play, a rash challenge on Stroud resulted in the referee brandishing a straight red. From the resulting free-kick, Keenan stepped up and directed a stunning effort into the far corner of Blood’s goal.
That looked set to be enough for three points, but there was to be a late twist.
Skouted upped the pressure and unleashed an effort that was superbly saved by Kernaghan in the Fermanagh goal, before a follow-up attempt by Bergin found its way into the net for the equaliser.
And in the dying stages of the tie, Bergin turned provider, with his attempt deflecting into the path of Dixon who managed to force his effort home to snatch all three points and break Fermanagh hearts.
Fermanagh: Tadhg Kernaghan, Oscar Timlin, TJ McNulty, Oisin Keenan, Adam McCaffrey, Rhys McGourty, Matthew Armstrong, John Ritchie, Fionn Stroud, Ethan Byrne, Callum St. Ledger ©
Substitutes: Patrick O’Sullivan, Eoghan McArdle, Ben Caughey, Aaron Ellis, Ethan Kavanagh, Shay McCarney, Bruce Lennox
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