Stalemate leaves St Mary's & Fenagh frustrated but draw a fair result in the end

When both sets of fans leave somewhat frustrated and neutrals thoroughly happy, you get the sense that a draw was absolutely the fair result in Friday’s highly entertaining Connacht Gold SFC clash as St Mary’s snatched an injury time draw against Fenagh St Caillins in Pairc Naomh Mhuire.

For three quarters of Friday’s repeat of the League Final, it looked as if St Mary’s would pick up their first win of the campaign, leading by seven points just after halftime. But then Fergal McLoughlin won a penalty out of nothing, showing great perseverance to win the ball and force a penalty and suddenly the game was changed.

Ryan O’Rourke’s brilliant spot kick sparked something in a Fenagh side who had been strangely lethargic all evening - suddenly, they were picking off the ball in the middle and with Oisin McLoughlin pushing up the field from defence where he had been situated and some deadly finishing from Riordan O’Rourke edged the visitors into a two point lead with less than two minutes remaining.

But this rivalry has been nothing if not close - Paul Keaney landed two points to tie the game before Fergal McLoughlin landed a monster point to edge Fenagh back in front, a wonder score. However, St Mary’s weren’t finished and sub Senan Bohan held his nerve to grab a deserved equaliser.

Fenagh almost sneaked it at the end - Donal Wrynn hit wide under immense pressure with Fergal McLoughlin desperately unlucky not to get a free, bundled into as he was kicking from distance but St Mary’s held out to pick up their first points of the campaign.

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON STUN ST MARY'S WITH LATE PENALTY

Both teams will be relieved and yet disappointed - St Mary’s intensity and teamwork had Fenagh in knots for long periods and Killian Gaffey’s ability with precision kickouts gave the town team a huge platform in the game. But they will regret how they went over 20 minutes without a score and allowed Fenagh to build momentum.

If you had asked any Fenagh fan at halftime if they’d take a draw, I’d imagine they’d have bitten your hand off but to let a two point lead with two minutes to go and an injury time lead slip will definitely hurt as both teams learned nothing that they didn’t already know - that landing a knockout blow on each other is incredibly difficult.

St Mary’s rattled the Fenagh crossbar with an early shot but it was Fergal McLoughlin who opened the scoring with a huge two pointer. St Mary’s response was impressive, Cian Reynolds scored a fine point before showing a clean pair of heels to the Fenagh defence, bursting in from the corner to produce a wonderful finish to the Fenagh net.

Conor Hackett and Conor Dwyer swapped points before Riordan O’Rourke scored a lovely point after a long ball. But Fenagh were caught napping on 14 minutes, Paul Keaney taking a quick free and blasting the ball to the Fenagh net to edge the home side into a four point lead.

Tom Gilheany and Riordan O’Rourke replied with good points but Cian Singleton, Conor Farrell and a two point Keaney free left the two goals separating the teams after 22 minutes. Both teams had chances before the break, a Ryan O’Rourke free the only score as St Mary’s led 2-6 to 0-7 at the break.

Paul Keaney and Ryan O’Rourke (free) opened the second half with successful two pointers but Oisin Bohan restored the six point gap after 36 minutes. Riordan O’Rourke scored an excellent point under immense pressure but it was wides that defined the game for the next period.

Oisin Bohan did incredibly wide to fist the ball away from the Mary’s goal after a high ball was broken by Fergal McLoughlin but with Donal Wrynn hitting two wides, Riordan O’Rourke & Conor Dwyer also off target, the only score came from an Oisin McLoughlin free.

The tone of the game was instantly changed on 47 minutes - a long ball  seemed easy for Ashley Maziya but Fergal McLoughlin picked his pocket and bore down on goal, tumbling to the ground as he shot wide. However, referee McMorrow adjudged the Fenagh man had been fouled and Ryan O’Rourke blasted home despite a good attempt from Gaffey to prevent the score. 

With less than ten minutes left, Ryan O’Rourke tied the scores with a well worked point. Mark Keegan then intercepted the Mary’s kickout to set up Riordan O’Rourke for a point that put Fenagh back in front. Both teams then had another wide before Riordan O’Rourke scored a brilliant effort on the spin to put Fenagh two to the good.

St Mary’s, looking a second defeat in the face, fought back - a foul on Daire Farrell saw Paul Keaney convert the free before he finished off a good move in the final minute of normal time to tie the scores.

The drama wasn’t over - Fenagh won possession, held onto the ball before Fergal McLoughlin launched a monster point over the bar. St Mary’s won the kickout and despite Feangh’s best efforts to slow them down, their quick counter attack ended with a successful point from Senan Bohan.

Level once more, there was still time for drama as Fergal McLoughlin launched a high effort in at goal, taking a hit as he shot. Killian Gaffey punched the ball clear where Donal Wrynn gathered but under immense pressure, he shot narrowly wide, leaving both sides happy and unhappy all the same time.

ST MARY'S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Paul Keaney 1-6, 3f; Cian Reynolds 1-1; Conor Farrell, Conor Hackett, Oisin Bohan, Cian Singleton & Senan Bohan 0-1 each

Team: Killian Gaffey; Ashley Maziya, Conor Farrell, Adam Reynolds, Diarmuid Kelleher, Mark Diffley, Daire Farrell, Aaron Gardiner, Paul Keaney, Oisin Bohan; Conor Farrell, Ben Guckian, Conor Hackett, Cian Singleton, Cian Reynolds. Subs: Senan Bohan for Kelleher (46); Mark Lenehan & Josh Maye for Maziya & Gardiner (55)

FENAGH ST CAILLINS

Scorers: Ryan O’Rourke 1-4, 1-3f; Riordan O’Rourke 0-5; Fergal McLoughlin 0-3; Tom Gilheany, Oisin McLoughlin (f) & Conor Dwyer 0-1 each

Team: Shane Doonan, Daniel McLoughlin, Conal McGovern, Oisin McLoughlin, Aaron McLoughlin, Conor Dwyer, Eoin McLoughlin, Fergal McLoughlin, Donal Wrynn, Mark Keegan, Colm McLoughlin, Tom Gilheany, Ryan O’Rourke, Jack Gilheany, Riordan O’Rourke. Subs: Subs: Caillin O’Rourke for A McLoughlin (23); James Gilheany for Dwyer (48)

Referee: Vincent McMorrow