Declan Bonner sent off as Erne Gaels and Enniskillen Gaels battle to stalemate

Enniskillen Gaels and Declan Bonner’s Erne Gaels will have to wait a little longer to claim Fermanagh footballing glory after a hard-fought draw in wet conditions at Brewster Park resulting in a replay.  

Enniskillen, seeking their second title in three years, were held to a stalemate by an Erne Gaels side aiming to end a 43-year title drought. 

The game was tense and closely contested, with Enniskillen's biggest lead being just two points after a strong start to the second half. However, Erne Gaels manager Declan Bonner, despite being sent off in the second half and labeling his dismissal as ‘nonsense’, remained positive: “I thought it was a great game of football, both teams went at it as best they could.”

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Man of the match Dan McCann was pivotal for Erne Gaels, scoring three excellent points, including a stunning effort early in the second half to level the match. Enniskillen’s Callum Jones and Ethan Beresford both added vital points, while Ross Bogue’s late ’45 brought the game to a 0-9 to 0-9 draw. 

Despite opportunities to win it late on, both sides missed crucial frees, leaving the contest unresolved and setting up a replay.