Fenagh find the killer blow in extra time to land Masonite Division 1 crown

Fenagh St Caillins gained a large measure of redemption and the Masonite Division 1 title as well as throwing the Senior Championship race wide open on Saturday evening when they eventually killed off the stubborn challenge of St Mary's Kiltoghert in an intriguing decider in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

Having suffered a heartbreaking defeat on penalties in last year's semi-final at the hands of St Mary's, it looked as if this decider was heading the same way as the League decider ended level at 1-10 to 2-7 and was again level at halftime of extra time. But just after Brian Farrell had put St Mary's in front, Fenagh struck the decisive blow when Leitrim captain Donal Wrynn landed a crucial goal.

That goal gave Fenagh room to breathe in a game where they led by five points at one stage in the first half before trailing by three midway through the second as their desire to get one over a team many had believed were looking nailed on favourites for the Fenagh Cup this year.

Fenagh St Caillins savour extra-time redemption against St Mary's to claim Masonite Division 1 title - GALLERY

After the heartbreak of losing last year's championship semi-final on penalties after extra time, Fenagh St Caillins extracted a measure of revenge when they beat St Mary's Kiltoghert 2-12 to 2-10 after extra time to claim the Masonite Division 1 crown in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Saturday evening. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan captured some great images of the crowd and the celebrations ... see who you can spot!

Had they lost this one, and they could well have, it would have been a travesty for Fenagh St Caillins for they were the better team for long periods but shorn of star attacker Ryan O'Rourke, sitting injured in the stands, they lacked the killer edge that would have better reflected their dominance in key areas around the middle of the park.

What won the day for Fenagh was their sheer desire - at times, St Mary's looked as if they might roll over them but time and time again, Fenagh came up with the big interceptions or profited from sloppy St Mary's play and despite missing some great chances that might have put the game to bed long before they eventually did, there was no doubting the better team on the day.

St Mary's took a chance by resting a few players carrying knocks but by the way they brought on Nicholas McWeeney, Adam Reynolds and Ben Guckian at halftime and then later introducing Gavin Reynolds and Diarmuid Kelleher, it shows St Mary's were going all out to win this but their uncharacteristically sloppy handling errors and a lack of the drive we've come to expect of them means they won't go into the championship with any illusions of grandeur after this loss.

Both teams will feel they have room to improve but very interested observers from other clubs watching both Fenagh and St Mary's will feel that there is something there to exploit in both teams and we may yet be in for a wide open championship.

St Mary's opened the scoring with a nice Jack Casey run after three minutes but Riordan O'Rourke replied instantly for Fenagh St Caillins. With both teams mirroring each other and St Mary's holding onto possession for long periods, albeit frequently lateral and backwards play, it was Fenagh who were hitting on the break, Fergal McLoughlin scoring well after a St Mary's attack broke down ten minutes in.

A minute later, Conor Dwyer fired over from about 40 yards to put Fenagh two up. It took another eight minutes for the next score to arrive with both sides missing chances but another good counter attack ended with Riordan O'Rourke notching his second. A minute later, Fergal McLoughlin also got his second after an excellent move down the field.

Despite a couple of yellow cards for Eoin and Fergal McLoughlin, Fenagh went five up when Riordan O'Rourke converted af ree with four minutes left in the half but St Mary's finally raised a cheer when Oisin Bohan converted a free after a foul on Conor Hackett just before the break, leaving Fenagh with a well deserved 0-6 to 0-2 halftime lead.

St Mary's sent for the calvary at halftime with Nicholas McWeeney, Ben Guckian and Adam Reynolds all coming on but it was Fenagh who missed the early chances, Donal Wrynn and Fergal McLoughlin shooting wide before a long ball to Jack Casey was worked back to Ben Guckian for a fine point five minutes in.

Fenagh St Caillins players celebrate after winning the Masonite Division 1 title Picture: Willie Donnellan

Riordan O'Rourke immediately hit back with a fine point after good work from Conor Dwyer but the sense there was more urgency from St Mary's was reflected in an instant reply from Conor Hackett after good work from Ben Guckian. Jack Casey fisted an effort off the post, Conor Dwyer shot wide at the other end before Oisin Bohan was fouled on a good run and then converted the free on nine minutes.

A minute later, St Mary's hit the front for the first time - a high ball into Jack Casey saw the ball transferred through Bohan and Guckian before ending up with Jack Barnes who shot to the net from a very tight angle. Crucially, Fenagh St Caillins hit back - Fergal McLoughlin hit a monster free into the wind from 53 yards before Tom Gilheaney seemed to defy physics by squeezing his shot from the left corner between the St Mary's posts.

That left the sides level once more but the hard running of St Mary's halftime subs Nicholas McWeeney and Adam Reynolds punched a huge hole in the Fenagh defence as they got the ball to Sam Barnes and he drilled the ball high into the roof of the Fenagh net to put St Mary's a goal to the good.

Again, Fenagh responded - three minutes later to be precise, Riordan O'Rourke got the ball to Mark Keegan who fed the ball high over a defender towards Conor Dwyer and despite Sean Reynolds coming off his line, the Fenagh man fired low to the corner of the net and we were level again.

The rest of the half was a tale of missed chances and yellow cards with Donal Wrynn, Gavin Reynolds and Fergal McLoughlin all missing chances while Adam Reynolds & Mark Lenehan were also booked. In the final minute, Fenagh edged in front but Donal Wrynn literally ran through Mark Lenehan before setting up Riordan O'Rourke for the lead point.

St Mary's tried to hit back immediately but Conor Hackett shot wide but the Carrick men forced extra-time when Sam Barnes intercepted and then got on the end of a good move to point. There was still time for Donal Wrynn to shoot narrowly wide and Jack Gilheaney to see yellow but the game ended level at 1-10 to 2-7.

The St Mary's Kiltoghert team who were defeated by Fenagh St Caillins in the Masonite Division 1 Final Picture: Willie Donnellan

Fenagh edged back in front in the first minute of the first half of extra-time with a fine Riordan O'Rourke point but Oisin Bohan ensured it remained deadlocked when he converted a free for a foul on himself, although O'Rourke did have a bad miss from a free some 35 yards out almost in front of the posts.

St Mary's edged in front when Brian Farrell scored an excellent point less than half a minute into the second period of extra-time but the game was turned on its head when a long ball saw Riordan O'Rourke field in behind the St Mary's defence. He got the ball to the equally free Donal Wrynn who buried the ball to the St Mary's net.

O'Rourke could have put his side three clear as Fenagh intercepted a St Mary's kickout but shot wide and St Mary's hit back with a Jack Casey point after a powerful Nicholas McWeeney run. Both teams missed chances with Jack Casey claiming a mark but leaving it short of the goal.

The game ended on a very sour note for St Mary's as keeper Sean Reynolds was shown a straight red card by referee Michael McGirl for an off-the-ball incident and when Donal Wrynn kicked a wonder 55 yard free from out near the right wing, Fenagh St Caillins victory was assured.

Champions St Mary's on road as new League champions Fenagh St Caillins host Leitrim Gaels

FENAGH ST CAILLINS

Scorers: Riordan O’Rourke 0-6, 1f; Donal Wrynn 1-1, 1f; Conor Dwyer 1-1; Fergal McLoughlin 0-3, 1f; Tom Gilheaney 0-1

Team: Ryan Smith, Aaron McLoughlin, Gary Butler, Conal McGovern, Mark Keegan, Jack Gilheaney, EoinMcLoughlin, Donal Wrynn, Conor Dwyer, Fergal McLoughlin, Shane Smith, Tom Gilheaney, Tony Simms, Riordan O’Rourke, Daniel McLoughlin. Subs: Michael Doonan for C McGovern (42); Shane Doonan for Simms (44); Caillin O’Rourke for Smith (50); Richard Heaney for Dwyer (60); Aaron Smith for F McLoughlin (67); Sean Keegan for T Gilheaney (75)

ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Sam Barnes 1-1; Oisin Bohan 0-3, 3f; Jack Barnes 1-0; Jack Casey & Ben Guckian (f) 0-2 each; Conor Hackett & Brian Farrell 0-1 each

Team: Sean Reynolds, Ashley Mayiza, Conor Farrell, Mark Lenehan, Cian Singleton, Mark Diffley, Brian King, Conor Hackett, James McGrail, Emmet Regan, Jack Barnes, David O’Connell, Jack Casey, Oisin Bohan, Sam Barnes. Subs: Nicholas McWeeney, Adam Reynolds & Ben Guckian for King, Mayiza & O’Connell (HT); Gavin Reynolds for McGrail (40); Diarmuid Kelleher for Regan (56); Brian Farrell for J Barnes (65); Kyle McCrann for S Barnes (73)

Referee: Michael McGirl