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Fermanagh 2-09 Wicklow 0-12
Eimear Smyth’s goal with 13 minutes remaining was decisive, as Fermanagh contained a strong attack from Wicklow in the final minutes to win his second TG4 All-Ireland youth soccer title in three years.
Róisín McDonald also hit the net in the first minute for Fermanagh, who left behind last year’s final loss to Louth and will return to the Intermediate category in 2021 as a result.
Wicklow was always trying to catch up on this game at Parnell Park and they were never ahead, but with Marie Kealy in excellent shape they managed to tie in the second half, only for Smyth’s goal to finally shake them off.
But Fermanagh also needs the late exploits of goalkeeper Shauna Murphy, who turned off substitute Sinéad McGettigan with a super save with a minute left, while also eliminating Kealy’s late foul to clinch the win.
There were doubts about the physical condition of Fermanagh captain Courteney Murphy all week, so it wasn’t a shock to see her withdrawn at the last minute, with Sarah Jane Jones starting in her place. And despite the blow, Fermanagh threw into the game and only 20 seconds had elapsed when Aisling Maguire’s pass allowed McDonald to throw the palm into the net.
Immediately Aoife Flanagan kicked a point for Fermanagh who was 1-1 to 0-0 ahead after a minute and a half, but Wicklow thanked a free kick from Meadhbh Deeney, who settled them after that difficult start.
Stopping Fermanagh’s menacing line of attack was central to Wicklow’s hopes of survival, and after Joanne Doonan and Smyth scored tough points in the game, Fermanagh appeared to be totally dominant.
But between the seventh and 15th minutes, Wicklow scored four unanswered points, including two excellent touchdowns from the right by captain Laura Hogan, making it 1-3 to 0-5.
Wicklow will remember that period of dominance and feel like they should have seized more opportunities, and when Doonan showed Sarah Hogan a clean pair of heels, Fermanagh again advanced two.
Kealy had found Wicklow’s target early in the half, but crucially, Fermanagh’s goal survived when his shot slammed into the post three minutes before the break. Rather than find themselves behind, Fermanagh launched a counterattack, which resulted in a Sarah McCausland point, while Smyth added a free before the break for a 1-7-0-6 interval lead.
A year after his relegation from Intermediate, Wicklow was desperate for an immediate comeback, and when Kealy and Laura Hogan combined to score the first four points of the second half, they canceled Fermanagh’s lead in the first half.
But the loss of midfielder Aoife Gorman in the sin bin after 40 minutes was a major setback, and after Smyth gave Fermanagh the lead again, Doonan turned the next kick around and sent Smyth on goal. His ending was low and ruthless.
Wicklow went 2-8 to 0-10 with 13 minutes remaining, but against Fermanagh’s excellent defense they only managed two more points. The closest Wicklow came to shooting level was through McGettigan, but Shauna Murphy turned the post around and the Ulster team claimed the honors.
Fermanagh: S Murphy; M McGloin, E Murphy, S McQuade; S McCarville, SJ Jones, M Flynn; R. O’Reilly, A Flanagan (0-01); S McCausland (0-01), R McDonald (1-00), A Maguire; J Doonan (0-02), E Smyth (1-05, 4f), A O’Brien.
Subs: B Bannon for Jones (38), S Britton for O’Brien (48), C Bogue for Flanagan (50), S Cassidy for McDonald (54), L Grew for McCausland (57).
Wicklow: L Dempsey; E Mulhall, SJ Winders, L Dunne; A Conroy, S Hogan, J Nolan Byrne; A Gorman, J Kinch; L Ahern, L Hogan (0-03), S Miley; C Fox, M Deeney (0-02), M Kealy (0-07, 4f).
Subs: S Byrne for Deeney (47), N McGettigan for Nolan Byrne (49), S McGettigan for Miley (51), J Byrne for Winders (57).
Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Donegal).
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