MALACHY McROE

ULSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP - 2010
Saturday 8 May 2010
Brewster Park, Enniskillen
Round "1"

Fermanagh, 2 gls. 10 pts; Monaghan, 1 gl. 15 pts .

Despite a great Fermanagh fight back against opponents Monaghan in which the Ernesiders Paul McGolderick and Sean Corrigan blasted in two goals they allowed a more tenacious Farney side back into the game, in which the Monaghan side won by a modest two points. It was the Farney visitors game to loose, and it was the Fermanagh side that at mid way in the games second half that took the major scoring initiative but only to be overpowered by the Monaghan side that not only survived their opponents fightback but went on to win. The Farney side were helped by crass and inept Ernesidesrs tackling of Monaghan free scoring centre half forward Michael McHugh who uncannily and accurately clipped over 1 goal 7 points and 6 from free. For some Fermanagh hurlers they have some weeks to prepare for the Lory Meagher Cup, for the rest it back the porridge of the Armagh and Ulster Hurling Leagues.
The Game - the first half
Fermanagh Score First -Monaghan On Top In First Half.
In this games opening half there was scoring similarity, with the previous game with both sides exchanging points, firstly from Monaghan's centre half forward Michael McHugh, and then from Fermanagh's left half forward Paul McGolderick, both from frees. The Ernesidesrs went briefly in front when Fermanagh mid-fielder Ryan Bogue floated in a well placed slither, which was collected by Paul McGolderick, who registered his and his side's second point from a play. Then Farney's Kevin Boylan brought about the games second draw, when he clipped over his sides point. That last sore unfortunately for the Fermanagh signalled the end of this games equilibrium for the Monaghan visitors were pull away from their hosts with repeated scoring of points got from previously awarded frees. Chief scoring assassin was Monaghan's centre half forward Michael McHugh, who clipped over no less 5 points. All registered in the games opening half. Four of which came from frees. His teammates Michael Lennon and Brian McGuigan assisted the Farney centre with one point each. The Fermanagh's answer was a point from their mid-fielder John Duffy who fired over from play at near the end of the games opening quarter. As the opening quarter came to an end Paul McGolderick flicked over his third and his sides fourth from a free. As the second quarter was now entered the scoring distance
Between sides went three points to five at the match's interval despite additional Fermanagh two points from Paul McGolderick in the dying minutes of the second quarter.
Half time scores
Fermanagh, 0 gl. 6 pts; Monaghan, 0 gl. 11 pts
Fermanagh Get Scoring -Goals & Points
Some basic advice by Fermanagh's management to their embattled hurlers obviously percolated to both Erneside defenders and attackers. To backs it obvious, curtail the scoring rampages of one Michael McHugh, who was limited to a single point in the games concluding half. Solving the Fermanagh defence problems was half the battle. The hosts forwards now logically went attack mode, when firstly their right full forward Ciaran Corrigan clipped over a well taken from play within minutes from the games resumption. Ernesidesrs now stepped up their attacking capability to the maximum, when their ace free taker Paul McGolderick blasted home a close in free. The latter green flag raising score brought this matches' third draw, with the scoreboard reading 1 goal 8 points for the hosts 11 points for the visitors. It was the Fermanagh who now went in front, who Paul McGolderick, who tipped over for his seventh point. With less than ten minutes to full time Ciaran Corrigan with his final point kept his side in the game. What was thought to be Fermanagh's winning score came from Ciaran Corrigan who fired low into the nets for his side's second goal. The now complacent Fermanagh spectators thought this was it! We had just to hold onto the lead and another historic victory would be ours. However the man of the games first half Michael McHugh was now to become man-of-the-match, when he went on a solo attack, when he drove his slithor off a Fermanagh defender which was deflected into the Ernesidesrs net. With time run out the Monaghan side added two match wining points from Michael McHugh and right full back Paudraig Dowdall.
Full Time scores
Round "1"
Fermanagh, 2 gls. 10 pts; Monaghan, 1 gl. 15 pts
Teams, Fermanagh, Peter McEvoy, Barry Smyth, Fergus Bannon, Mathew Teague, Shea Curran, Mark Slevin, Francie McBrien, Ryan Bogue (1 pt ), John Duffy (1 pt.), David Slevin, Paul McGolderick ( 1 gl. 6 pts, 5 frees), Sean Corrigan ( 1 gl. 1 pt.), Karl Kehoe & Peter Timoney.
Manager, Rory O'Donnell. Selector Jason McManus
Subs, Andrew Breslin for P. Timoney, Cathal McGarry for David Slevin,
Monaghan, Hugh Byrne, Padraig Dowdall ( 1pt.), Paul Murphy, Aidan Kerr, Declan Crowe, Seamus Loftus, John McAnespie ( 1 pt.), Trevor Hilliard, Brian Phelan, Kevin Boylan ( 1pt.0, Michael McHugh ( 1 gl. 7 pts. 6 frees), Brian McGuigan ( 1 pt.), Ronan Meegan ( 1 pt.), Sean Leonard ( 1 pt.) & Michael Lennon ( 1 pt.).
Manager, Frank Brady.
Referee, Martin Mulholland (Derry). Tweet

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