The Minor team's historic bid for a Minor Championship title ended in disappointment losing out comprehensively to Tempo, in Derrylin on Saturday evening.

Tempo complete minor double
From the Fermanagh Herald

TEMPO ................................ 3-14
KINAWLEY ............................ 2-3

Tempo came into this championship final with the first division league crown already secured and that in itself made them warm favourites to capture this title. The mantle of favouritism was more forcefully placed on their shoulders by the fact that their opposition was to be a surprise packet Kinawley team who had plied their league trade in the second division and had failed to make that particular decider.

But Kinawley had enjoyed a tremendous run in the championship and had punched well above their weight, in the process spinning out two first division sides.

So Tempo had been forewarned that despite appearances to the contrary it was imperative that they approach this game in the proper manner.

And this is what the favourites duly did. Right from the outset they were in determined frame of mind, they immediately set about the business of stripping the underdogs of any sense of belief and by the time that Kinawley had registered their first score, this coming a few minutes prior to the interval, the game had more or less been decided.

The couple of scores that Kinawley did pick up still left them nine points adrift, a margin that did retain a sliver of hope that perhaps they might indeed be able to stage a remarkable fightback.

But the early minutes of the second half dispelled that idea, Tempo galloping in for a second goal and two points to kill off the contest emphatically.

Kinawley will be disappointed, in this their first ever appearance in an 'A' Minor Championship final, not to have managed a stronger challenge. But they were no match for a much superior opposition.

Defensively, they had strong performers in corner back Enda Monaghan and in centre half Gerry Gallagher with Ciaran Melanophy having his moments in the middle of the park. Key player for Kinawley was to have been forward Tomas Corrigan but from a very early juncture he was forced to come out further into the middle areas of the park and here his influence was to be minimal.

As for Tempo, they again produced an all-round sturdy team performance. They did have a couple of hiccups in defence when they conceded a couple of simple enough goals but in the main they were untroubled and seemed eminently able to step up a gear as the occasion demanded.

It was incessant Tempo pressure over the opening 25 minutes, Kinawley restricted to occasional raids, which were dealt with easily by the compact Tempo defence.

At the other end, the scores were to flow, a string of points from a wide range of players, full forward Oisin McCann finding oceans of space to roam as target man and Daryl Keenan was hugely effective in the middle of the park.

It was Keenan who fired in Tempo's first goal and with half-time approaching the lead had stretched to 1-9 to 0-0. Kinawley were being swamped but they at last drew a bead of comfort with two scores.

The first was a goal, a free hoisted into the Tempo goalmouth, the ball not fielded cleanly and the spill went to corner forward Aodghan Murphy who slammed to the net promptly. Tomas Corrigan added a free and Kinawley had been given a glimpse of encouragement even though the final score of the half was another Tempo point.

And the restart saw Tempo put the game to bed. They shot a goal and two points, the goal a well-crafted effort that involved a quick free from Ryan Ingram to Oisin McCann to Daryl Keenan and the finish was assured.

Kinawley did respond with a 42nd minute fisted goal from Ciaran Melanophy after some less than positive Tempo defending and Sean Crudden added a pointed free but the gap separating the sides remained a massive one and it was clearly well beyond Kinawley's ability to bridge it.

In any case, it was the leaders who finished with a flourish, Niall McCusker shooting the team's third goal and a couple of more points routinely tacked on, Kinawley having the final score of a one-sided affair.

Teams

Tempo: Matthew Jackson, Ciaran Flanagan, PJ Rogers, Turlough Cox, Daragh McCaffery, Padraig McCann, Dean Donnelly, Daryl Keenan, Rory Foy, Ryan Ingram, Niall McCusker, Ryan Bogue, Shane McDonald, Oisin McCann and Jamie Campbell.

Kinawley: Paul Doonan, Conor McManus, Karl McGovern, Enda Monaghan, Ryan Cornyn, Gerry Gallagher, Danny McCaffery, Aidan Clarke, Ciaran Melanophy, Chris Doonan, Tomas Corrigan, Paddy McGovern, Aodghan Murphy, Sean Crudden and Noel Martin. Subs – Cahir Gilheaney, Ryan Scollan and Donal Owens.

Referee: Damian Keenan, Lisnaskea.