Sport

Returning Kelm strikes vital goal to send Fermanagh through

Ultan Kelm (left) made a surprise return to the Fermanagh team on Saturday and scored the vital goal in their win over Longford<br />Picture: Sportsfile&nbsp;
Ultan Kelm (left) made a surprise return to the Fermanagh team on Saturday and scored the vital goal in their win over Longford
Picture: Sportsfile 
Ultan Kelm (left) made a surprise return to the Fermanagh team on Saturday and scored the vital goal in their win over Longford
Picture: Sportsfile 

Tailteann Cup Round One: Longford 0-12 Fermanagh 1-12

A mere few hours after Fremantle Dockers firmly threw their hat in the ring for AFL Grand Final honours by ending the 21-game unbeaten run of the reigning champions, the Melbourne Demons, a man who was originally supposed to be part of that journey for the ‘Dockers’ landed in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford to make his first competitive appearance of the year for the Fermanagh senior footballers.

A recurring hip injury may have shattered Ultan Kelm’s dreams of featuring for Fremantle this summer, but Fermanagh supporters will be delighted that the Erne Gaels man was ready to tog out for Kieran Donnelly’s side on Saturday afternoon, as he put in a tireless and purposeful performance for 70 minutes, crowned by the game’s decisive goal.

“He only came in last minute, Richard O’Callaghan failed a fitness test before the game” said Donnelly after his side’s win.

“Ultan came in and he was excellent. He really led the line and caused them loads of problems when he ran at them. His goal was massive because it looked like it could have gone to extra-time, so it was a big moment.”

Certainly the scoreboard would suggest that the goal was decisive, though to be fair to the Ulster county, they had taken control of proceedings at that stage and looked like the more likely winners by some distance.

The first seven minutes saw Longford go three points clear, as the direct running of the home side down central channels caused Fermanagh huge problems.

DCU Freshers star Keelin McGann led the way, kicking one point and beating defenders time and again, but Fermanagh settled with a score from Ciarán Corrigan, and gradually started to clog those key central lanes.

A black card for Conall Jones after 28 minutes opened the door for Longford to retake the initiative, but Fermanagh’s defensive work in this period was excellent, and they got to half-time just two points adrift, 0-6 to 0-4.

“We felt they were causing us problems, we did change a few things and tweak it at half-time just to make sure that we were filling the middle” said Donnelly.

“I thought we got to grips with it in the second half, we dominated some key aspects of the game. We needed that bit more urgency in our play. A lot of our big players stepped up, I thought we had a few outstanding individual performances” he added.

0-6 to 0-4 at the interval in Longford’s favour became a three-point lead when McGann added another excellent point in the third minute of the second half, but from there Fermanagh took over, kicking six of the next seven points.

Seán Quigley hit some excellent frees while Ryan and Conall Jones were excellent down the middle, with Joe McDade also weighing in with some key catches at midfield.

The introduction of Mark Hughes helped Longford get back on terms as he kicked two excellent scores, but Fermanagh never trailed again, and were leading by one when a driving run from Kelm after 69 minutes opened up the defence and set up his perfect low shot past Paddy Collum.

Ryan Jones followed up with a masterful strike from distance and while Longford kicked the next two, the goal chance they needed never looked like arriving.

Fermanagh: S McNally; L Flanagan, G Kavanagh, J Cassidy; A Breen, D McCusker, J McMahon; R Jones (0-4), J McDade; U Kelm (1-1), C Jones (0-1), J Largo Ellis; C Corrigan (0-1), D McGurn (0-1), S Quigley (0-4 frees).

Subs: O Kelm for McMahon (h-t), L McStravick for Corrigan (59), G Jones for U Kelm (70+2), K Connor for Breen (70+3).

Yellow cards: Cavanagh (2), Quigley (29).

Black card: C Jones (28).

Longford: P Collum; P Fox, A Farrell, J Moran; R Moffett (0-1), M Quinn, B O’Farrell; D Gallagher (0-5 frees), K Diffley (0-1); K McGann (0-2), D Doherty, Dessie Reynolds; I O’Sullivan, Daniel Reynolds, J Duggan.

Subs: J Shiels for O’Sullivan (28), J Matthews for Duggan (HT), M Hughes (0-2) for Doherty (49), E McCormack for Daniel Reynolds (59), F Sheridan (0-1) for Diffley (70).

Yellow cards: Moran (14), Farrell (26).

Black cards: Moffett (42), McGann (70+1).

Referee: J Henry (Mayo)