Football

Derrygonnelly Harps remember lost stalwart Peter Jones as they reclaim Fermanagh title

Stephen McGuillion scores the second goal of the Fermanagh Senior Football Championship final at Brewster Park. Pic Philip Walsh
Stephen McGuillion scores the second goal of the Fermanagh Senior Football Championship final at Brewster Park. Pic Philip Walsh Stephen McGuillion scores the second goal of the Fermanagh Senior Football Championship final at Brewster Park. Pic Philip Walsh

THE Derrygonnelly Harps club remembered their lost stalwart Peter Jones as they reclaimed their county title with a battling win against Enniskillen Gaels yesterday.

Peter, whose sons Aaron and Leigh were at the forefront of the Harps’ nine-point success, died tragically in July in a drowning accident after getting into difficulties in Lough Melvin. A devoted clubman, he had coached a number of the players who won the New York Cup yesterday including midfielder Stephen McGullion.

“Peter would have coached a lot of us,” said McGullion.

“He coached me the whole way up from under-10s. Myself and Leigh would have been in the same group and it was nice to be able to embrace him and Aaron at the final whistle. Peter did so much for our club so it was nice to be able to give his family a wee bit of happiness that will maybe ease the pain for a while.”

Fermanagh midfielder McGullion had to stand his ground in an intense midfield battle yesterday. Himself and skipper Ryan Jones were paired against Enniskillen’s Brandon Horan and Eoin Beacom and they contributed a combined 1-2 from play to their club’s winning effort.

Yesterday’s title was the sixth of his career and he said that the pain of losing to Ederney in last year’s decider had refocused a side that had become used to winning in Fermanagh.

“There were a couple we took for granted but when we lost last year it kind of grounded us a bit and winning it back means a lot to the club after everything that has happened this year,” he said.

"In fairness to Enniskillen, they put it up to us a lot and probably the third quarter after half-time stood to us. We got that bit of breathing space and then we were able to chip on a few more scores to see us home.”

McGullion capped his own performance with a late goal that put paid to any prospect of a comeback from Enniskillen.

“I wouldn’t be known for my goal-scoring but lucky enough I was in the right place and I hit it low and it went in,” he said.