Smyth shoots Fermanagh back to Croke Park

TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship

Fermanagh 1-11

Down 0-12

By Deniese O’Flaherty

The talismanic Eimear Smyth was on song as she helped Fermanagh book their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final with a narrow win over Ulster rivals Down at St. Tiernach’s Park in Clones.

Smyth scored 1-10, all but three points of it from play, while at the other end the heroics of her team-mate Courteney Breen right at the end helped the Erne County to victory.

Ciara McGarrigale got the opening score of the game inside the first minute. Katie Howlett replied for Down before Fermanagh got a goal in the fifth minute. Niamh McManus with the pass to Smyth, she turned before firing to the net.

Eimear Fitzpatrick kicked over a lovely two point free to put just one between the sides before Smyth kicked over her second point in the 11th minute. After their fine start, that was to be Fermanagh’s last score of the half. They had chances but were guilty of some wayward shooting and kicking poor wides.

Eva Hicks kicked over three points in a row to give Down the lead for the first time in the 26th minute. Two minutes later wing-back Niamh McClory got up to fire over a neat point to put two between the sides.

Fermanagh celebrate booking their place in the All-Ireland final

Down also created some goal chances but were unable to find the back of the net as they went in at the break with a 0-8 to 1-3 lead.

Smyth kicked over the first point of the second half in the 31st minute; Fermanagh’s first score since the 11th minute. She followed up with another point to draw the game in the 33rd minute.

Fitzpatrick and Smyth exchanged points from frees before Laoise Duffy edged Down back in front again in the 36th minute. Fermanagh created scoring opportunities but just like the first half, they squandered them.

The game was level again in the 44th minute when Smyth was on target yet again from a free but down the other end McClory’s ball bounced over the crossbar to give Down the lead.

It wasn’t a classic but it was end to end stuff and with Smyth in excellent form Fermanagh kept coming at Down. The sides were level for a seventh time in the 58th minute. In the 60th minute a free from the boot of Smyth put Fermanagh again, the first time since the 11th minute.

She put two between them in the second minute of stoppage time. Down needed a goal. Substitute Niamh Rice took a shot but Breen stopped the ball on the line to earn a dramatic win for her side.

Scorers
Fermanagh: E Smyth 1-10 (3fs), C McGarrigle 0-1.

Down: E Fitzpatrick 0-4 (1f, 1tpf), E Hicks 0-3, K Howlett, N McClory 0-2 each, L Duffy 0-1.

FERMANAGH: A Haren; Courteney Breen, A O’Brien, S McQuade (capt.); A Keenan, C Bogue, B Bannon; A McCarney, Caitriona Breen; S Britton, N McManus, C Gallagher; C McGarrigle, E Smyth, J Doonan. Subs: A McCarney for Breen ht, S McCarville for O’Brien 40, C Gallagher for C McGarrigle 45, E Carrigan for B Smyth 55.

DOWN: M Deery; N Loudon, E Sands, A Greene; N Edgar, O Blaney, N McClory; M Doherty, K Howlett; A Laverty, L Duffy, N McGrath; N King, E Fitzpatrick, E Hicks. Subs: R McKenna for Edgar 21, N Rice for McGrath 37, C Brown for Sands 54, C Donnelly for E Fitzpatrick 60.

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).