Electric Ireland Ulster MFC Rd 2
Cavan 2-9 Fermanagh 1-7
12 May
Brewster Park, Enniskillen.
Cavan U17s made it two wins from two in the Ulster Minor Football Championship to secure a place in the semi final. This was a close battle with the sides all square on the three quarter mark. Fionntán O’Reilly’s goal was the catalyst to settle the Breffni lads and push on to seal victory.
Played in Brewster Park before a good crowd, the visitors had a good start notching 1-2 to 0-1 after fifteen minutes. Fermanagh no. 11 Darragh McBrien opened the scoring with a free. Eoin Clarke kick a fine score to equalise. In the twelfth minute Emmett Boylan was brought down in the small square and referee Mark Dorrian pointed to the penalty. Eoin Clarke’s shot low to the corner was saved superbly by Sean McNally in the Fermanagh goal. Eoin did very well to follow in and pick up the loose ball and calmly fist over. The goal came two minutes later when Emmett Boylan reacted quickest to a breaking ball to palm the ball to the net.
Both sides would score three points each over the next twelve minutes to leave the score 1-5 to 0-4 with half time fast approaching. Conor Love who along with the aforementioned McBrien were a constant threat over the hour slotted all three for the hosts while Cavan’s scores came from Caoimhán McGovern, Tiarnan Madden and a Ryan O’Reilly free.
Darragh McBrien was adjudicated to be pulled in from of goal and a penalty was awarded. Conor Love duly slotted home the spot kick to reduce the margin to the minimum as the half time whistle sounded, Cavan 1-5, Fermanagh 1-4.
Scores were hard to come by in the second half as both sides defended admirably. It was tit for tat over the third quarter to leave to leave the side all square at 1-7 apiece. Then enter Fionntán O’Reilly, younger brother of senior player Caoimhin. Fionntán, on receiving the ball from a short Free from the quick thinking Oisin Brady, cut inside and made no mistake to slot the ball low to the net to put Cavan three up. This gave John Bradys charges the imputes to push for the finish and two scores from Ryan O’Reilly and Oisin Brady ensured victory and a place in the semi final where they meet either Down or Monaghan on June 30th.
Scorers for Cavan: Ryan O’Reilly (0-3, 2f), Emmett Boylan (1-0), Fionntán O’Reilly (1-0), Eoin Clarke (0-2), Caoimhán McGovern (0-2), Oisin Brady (0-1), Tiarnan Madden (0-1).
Scorers for Fermanagh: Conor Love (1-4, 1 Pen, 3f), Darragh McBrien (0-2f), Aaron McHugh (0-1).
CAVAN: Brían O’Rourke (Ballyhaise), Oisin Brady (Killygarry), Evan Kelly (Laragh United), Donal Keappock (Drumgoon), Dara Sheridan (Ballymachugh), Sean Donohoe (Denn), Cian Boylan (Crosserlough), Ryan O’Reilly (Mullahoran), Eoin Clarke (Ballyhaise), Jack Trainor (Cornafean), Emmett Boylan (Crosserlough), Daryl McGurren (Drumlane), Enda Maguire (Ramor United), Caoimhán McGovern (Shannon Gaels), Tiarnan Madden (Gowna).
Subs: Eoin McCaffrey (Templeport) for McGurren (35m BC), James Maguire (Shannon Gaels) for Enda Maguire (36m), Fionntán O’Reilly (Butlersbridge) for E Boylan (50m), Kevin McGovern (Corlough) for Kelly (55m).
FERMANAGH: Sean McNally, Leigh Green, Josh Horan, Gareth McGovern, Rian McGovern, Aaron McManus, Ronan McHugh, Daire Hill, Joe McDade, Oisín Jackson, Darragh McBrien, Aaron Tierney, Conor Love, Achlin O Cathain, Fergal Quinn.
Subs: Aaron McHugh for Quinn (51m), Lawerence McKeown for Hill (55m), Oisin Murphy for Tierney (59m), Darragh Burke for Jackson (59m), Lorcan O’Brien for Darragh O’Brien (62m).
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Donegal).
