Errigal Ciarán ... 0-8 Enniskillen Gaels ... 1-3: Some people go to Lough Derg for penance, others to Clones in December, writes Keith Duggan
Errigal Ciarán won their first Ulster title since 1993 in miserable circumstances that made this game a pitched battle between man and nature as much as a contest between two opposing teams.
Football at this time of year bears only the vaguest resemblance to the summer game and the unhappy scheduling of the provincial showpieces in the bleakest quarter of the year is wrong. The stereotypical image of the club championship is that of village pride and hardy local boys doing whatever it takes. There is a myth that flying muck and hail-storms and low scores are among the chief attractions of the club game. This is a nonsense that devalues the competition and cheapens the occasion for the players.
Enniskillen worked as hard as any team that has appeared in Clones over the past few years yet they failed to score a point from play. Errigal Ciarán have been posting huge scores in their county and Ulster campaign yet even they hit the wall, with newly-anointed All Star Peter Canavan fumbling in the mud like any other mortal.
Perhaps there are Gaels out there who consider these sodden and painfully ugly matches as essential but if so, they must be a disappearing breed. Irish summers are appalling enough without asking serious athletes to perform on foul days like this.
Given Errigal's undoubted armoury, the dour nature of the game probably suited Enniskillen. They managed just two points in the first half, courtesy of Tom Brewster, but Errigal were also stunted, with Rory McCann opening the scores and Canavan firing three frees to leave them with 0-4 on the scoreboard.
With both teams looking solid, a slippery goal or some other intangible was always likely to make the crucial difference. And after just five minutes of the second half, Pascal Canavan was felled with the ball up the other side of the field.
Following the usual minutes of investigation, referee Michael Convery red-carded Neil Cox. His departure disrupted what had been a very cohesive Enniskillen defence and from there in they struggled. Pascal Canavan also left the field to get a blood injury tended to and by the time he returned, Tom Brewster had reduced the deficit to just one point after his brother Paul won a free.
Still, such were the mammoth breaks in Enniskillen's scoring sequence that Errigal always looked likely to string together the defining burst of scores.
After 41 minutes, Peter Loughran and Enda McGinley combined to set up Rory McCann and his nicely-angled point set the platform. Four minutes later, Peter Canavan was awarded a dubious-looking free while wriggling away from Michael Lilly and he duly dispatched the kick. Up three points, Errigal were pulling out of sight.
Enniskillen doubled their work-rate after Cox's lonely walk. Both the Brewsters were central, with Paul giving a strong but largely defensive performance, covering in front of his half-back line and never once embarking on the flying raids that have characterised his years with Fermanagh. Lilly excelled in a largely flawless defensive effort and much of the play was directed through Tom Brewster.
Enniskillen's reprieve came from his sideline kick, when he arched a long ball into the square. It was as good a way as any to attempt to break down an Errigal defence that was also resolute. As the ball fell, burly full forward Rory Judge met it at speed and fisted the ball into the net. The goal was as perfectly timed as it was unlikely.
Errigal, however, are virtual masters at squeezing out of tight situations and rescued this situation with little fuss. Working the ball forward, Errigal scrambled into Enniskillen territory seeking to restore their lead. With the Enniskillen defence packing tight around the goalmouth, Errigal moved the ball back out to waiting centre back Paul Horisk who calmly chipped it for a point.
It was appropriate that Horisk, very safe and busy all afternoon at the Errigal coal-face, should land such an important score.
With five minutes left Enniskillen had another goal chance, with Niall Keenan delivering a low, fast ball over the top of the Errigal defence. Pio Fitzpatrick, on the field for just a few minutes, deflected it with a fist and it skidded past John Byrne wide of the goal. Errigal rode their luck and worked another point, with Enda McGinley clipping his only score with two minutes remaining.
Enniskillen looked devastated on the wasteland of Clones as Errigal celebrated what has been a hard-earned Ulster title. Now they look forward to a couple of months of winter training before their next competitive game. The club game truly is about the survival of the fittest.
ERRIGAL CIARÁN: J Byrne; B O'Donnell, C McGinley, D O'Neill; E McGinley, P Horisk (0-1), D Harte; Pascal Canavan, P Loughran; E McGinley (0-1), M Harte, A McGinley; R McCann (0-2), Peter Canavan (0-4 frees), D Tierney. Subs: S Mallon for D Harte (26 mins), E Gormley for E McGinley (44 mins).
ENNISKILLEN GAELS: N Connor; M Millar, K Gunn, M Lilly; N Cox, M Farry, R McCloskey; P Brewster, T Brewster (0-3 frees); O McShea, N Keenan, D Shannon; R McCabe, R Judge (1-0), C Bradley. Subs: R Curran for D Shannon (23 mins), P Fitzpatrick for O McShea (54 mins).
Referee: M Convery (Derry).
