Erne Gaels ended a 43-year wait for the New York Cup with a deserving victory over Enniskillen in the Fermanagh SFC Final at Brewster Park.
Enniskillen had led by five points after 19 minutes but it was all the Belleek side after that as they got their noses in front by the break before kicking on in the second period to seal a memorable win.
Erne Gaels held a slender 0-2 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes but a back card for Belleek’s Shane Rooney saw Enniskillen enjoy their best spell of the game as they outscored their opponents 1-4 to 0-1 over the ten minutes.
Callum Jones popped over a free before Conor Love rifled home a terrific effort to make it 1-2 to 0-2. Brandon Horan and Love further extended the advantage before Tommy McCaffrey clipped over for Erne Gaels.
An Ethan Beresford score made it 1-5 to 0-3 to Enniskillen and at this stage they looked in full control.
However, Erne Gaels settled back into the contest and Oisin Kelm and the impressive Ultan Kelm (2) reduced the deficit to two points before they swooped for a goal in added-on time. Rooney’s attempt at a point dropped short and Michael Og McGarrigle palmed to the net to put them 1-6 to 1-5 ahead.
Rooney and Ultan Kelm were on target in the early stages of the second half although points from Horan and Conor McShea kept Enniskillen in touch.
However, a black card for Eoin Beacom and a red card for an off the ball incident for Enniskillen’s experienced Richard O’Callaghan gave Erne Gaels the numerical advantage and they made it tell to push home for victory.
Kelm, Barry McCann, Rooney (2) and Seamus Ryder all landed points for Erne Gaels in the closing period and while Jones and John Reihill replied for Enniskillen they were only consolation points as Erne Gaels sealed a 1-13 to 1-9 win.
Enniskillen: R Bogue; J Tierney, N Tierney, J Horan; C Murphy, C Quinn 0-1, C Smith; B Horan 0-2, J Cassidy; E Beacom, C McShea 0-1, C Jones 0-2 (2f); C Love 1-1, R O’Callaghan, E Beresford 0-1
Subs – J Reihill 0-1 (f) for Murphy (48), C Halligan for Beresford (48), C McAnespy for J Tierney (59)
Erne Gaels: B Ryder; S Mimna, J McCann, U O’Reilly; O Kelm 0-1, B Mullin, R Lyons; M Og McGarrigle 1-0, P Ward; D McCann, A Kelm 0-1, M Gilfeddar; T McCaffrey 0-1, S Rooney 0-3 (1m), U Kelm 0-5 (2f)
Subs – G McGloin for Mullin (2), B McCann 0-1 for McGloin (39), O Johnston for Gilfeddar (53), S Ryder 0-1 for A Kelm (59)
Referee: E Murphy (Derrylin)