Kingscourt come up short in extra time

Ulster Club SFC quarter-final

Erne Gaels 3-15

Kingscourt Stars 1-16

AET

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Erne Gaels will play the winners of Loughmacrory and Kilcoo in the Ulster Club SFC semi-final after the Fermanagh champions came through in extra time at Kingspan Breffni.

The Belleek side, managed by former Donegal boss Declan Bonner, were in total control in the first half, leading by 13 at one stage, and still led by nine points approaching the final ten minutes, but a rousing Kingscourt comeback – led by Jordan Morris and in particular the exceptional Cian Shekleton – forced extra time.

In the additional period, Erne Gaels rediscovered their composure and deservedly took the spoils.

The first half was all one-way traffic as Erne Gaels tore into the Cavan champions with pace and precision.

The Kelms, Aogán and Ultan, were electric from the off, repeatedly finding gaps in a disjointed Kingscourt defence, with Ryan Lyons creating chances and the defence tight – but the Gaels left a lot of scores behind them.

The Stars had two early wides and struggled badly on their own kick-out, while the Fermanagh men settled quickly. Aogán Kelm clipped over the opening score in the eighth minute before a long-range effort from Oisin Kelm hit the upright and fell kindly to Odhran Johnston, who calmly finished to the net for the game’s opening goal.

Kingscourt were in disarray at this stage. Their kick-outs were malfunctioning, they couldn’t get their hands on the ball, and when they did, they were turned over. Ultan Kelm showed trademark acceleration to dummy and clip over another before he added a well-taken goal, twisting inside two defenders and lashing to the top corner to make it 2-2 to 0-0 after just 13 minutes.

Cian Shekleton finally got Kingscourt on the board with a fine point from distance, but the respite was brief.

Jack McCann’s speculative effort dropped short and ended up in the net, giving Erne Gaels a scarcely believable 3-2 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes.

They should have been further ahead, too, kicking seven wides in that period. Johnston added a brilliant two-pointer from distance before Shekleton struck back with two points – one from play and one from a free moved up by the referee – to leave it 3-4 to 0-3 at half-time.

On the resumption, Morris began to see more ball and Shekleton continued to lead by example, clipping over a superb score from the left wing to give the Stars hope. Lyons replied with a lovely strike for Erne Gaels but Shekleton then produced a classy two-pointer from distance and Kingscourt began to stir.

The comeback gathered momentum with sub Cormac Yore making an impact at midfield. His presence helped Kingscourt secure primary possession and drive forward. After good work from Dillon and Corrigan, Yore ghosted in at the back post to steer home a goal that ignited the match. Suddenly, it was 3-8 to 1-8 and the Stars’ supporters found their voice.

Erne Gaels, rattled for the first time, began to make unforced errors. Morris kicked a massive two-pointer from a free to tie the game and was just off target with a sideline ball which would have won it in normal time.

Kingscourt struck first in extra through a Shekleton free, but the Fermanagh men steadied the ship. Thomas McCafferty drove forward and was hauled down, with sub Seamus Ryder converting the resulting free to edge them back in front.

Moments later, Peter Corrigan burst through and squared to Odhran Cunningham, whose thunderous shot crashed off the crossbar and back into play.

Erne Gaels responded like champions. Oisin Kelm raised an orange flag, Substitute Shane Rooney then added another from just inside the arc, before Lyons curled over a lovely left-footed point as the Fermanagh side reasserted control.

Dan McCann extended the lead further and, though Morris landed a defiant point at the other end, the Stars could not find another gear.

Erne Gaels: Brian Ryder, Shane Minna, Paul Ward, Ultan O’Reilly, Oisín Kelm (0-3, 2pt), Jack McCann (1-0), Barry McCann (0-2, 2ptf), Michael Óg McGarrigle, Ryan Lyons (0–1), Brian Mullin, Thomas McCafferty (0-1, 1f), Aogán Kelm (0-1), Shane Rooney (0-2, 1f), Ultan Kelm (1-1), Odhrán Johnston (1-2, 2pt)

Subs: Seamus Ryder (0-1f) for A Kelm (28), Martin Gilfeddar for O Johnston (42), Dan McCann (0-1) for S Rooney (45), Shane Rooney for T McCafferty (66), Padraig Johnston for U Kelm (75).

Kingscourt Stars: Tom Martin, Cormac McAvinney, John McCullough, Shane Gray, Odhran Cunningham, Aaron Shekleton, Barry Tully, John McKeon, Paddy Meade, Joe Dillon, Peter Corrigan, Ciaran Dermody, Jordan Morris (0-4, 2ptf), Kevin Curtis, Cian Shekleton (0-12, 2 2pt, 2f)

Subs: Caoimhín Magee for J McKeon (19), Michael McKeon for K Curtis (ht), Cormac Yore (1-0) for C Dermody (41), Sean Burke for C Magee (75), Killian Farrelly for S Gray (75).

Ref: Enda McFeely (Donegal).