Erne Gaels have cemented their legacy in Fermanagh football history with a dominant nine-point victory over Derrygonnelly Harps at a blustery Brewster Park on Sunday afternoon.

The victory makes it three New York Cups in a row for the Belleek side, the first team to achieve the feat since the great Harps team of the 2010s, who bagged five on the spin.

The win was largely built on a devastating opening half, in which Gaels scored 1-9 without reply. Despite the Harps fighting back with their customary resilience, the deficit proved too great to overcome.

Alongside outstanding performances from the Kelms and McCanns, the likes of Eamon Óg Magee and Tommy McCaffrey also played their hearts out, underlining once again the exceptional fitness levels that are helping this Gaels side set the gold standard in Fermanagh football.

Quick start

To say Erne Gaels started the better of the sides would be the understatement of the season, as they dominated the early stages, with Aogan Kelm opening the scoring.

Ryan Lyons then clipped a shot narrowly wide after a Gaels turnover, but Dan McCann soon added a fine score to double the early lead.

Both teams were guilty of hitting wides, but the difference was that Derrygonnelly were giving their opponents far too much space to both score and miss. They were punished when Aogan Kelm fed brother Ultan, who struck a beautiful two-pointer from the middle.

Rory Smyth tried to get the Harps on the scoreboard soon after, but he left himself with too much to do, and his effort from a tight angle sailed across the goal.

The next few minutes proved devastating for the Harps. After Brian Mullin finished off a patient passing move with a point, having again been afforded far too much space, Ultan Kelm popped up with a screamer of a goal, giving Harps goalkeeper Jack Kelly no chance as the score moved to 1-5 to no score.

Ultan Kelm and Jack McCann added further points before Dan McCann launched another two-pointer to make it 1-9 to the Gaels.

Just when it looked like the Gaels three-in-a-row bid was turning into a procession, the Harps finally switched on in attack and began to absorb the pressure, turning it into a sublime few minutes that brought them right back into the contest.

First, goalkeeper Jack Kelly bravely opted to take on a two-point free rather than settle for the easier single, before Gary McKenna added another two-pointer half a minute later.

Sensing the shift in momentum, Derrygonnelly threw themselves into every 50-50 contest and began winning them all.

Scores from Oisin Smith and Gary McKenna saw the Gaels’ 12-point lead halved in just over three minutes, bringing a spectacular first half to a close.

Harps fight back

A poor start to the second half for Harps saw them concede a point to Jack McCann before losing Ronan McGovern to injury, with Jarlath Flanagan introduced in his place.

Another fine team move ended with Ultan Kelm adding a point to make it 1-11, but substitute Flanagan responded with a two-pointer for Harps to bring the deficit back to eight points.

Tommy McCaffrey played the ball into Mullin, who turned and fisted over to make it 1-12 to the Gaels.

McCaffrey was involved again moments later, producing another brilliant piece of play to take on the Harps defence before setting up Aogan Kelm, who added a fine score for 1-13 to 0-8.

Shane Mimnagh then got in on the scoring act, with the Gaels corner-back sending over a beautiful point to make it 1-14before Rian McGovern and Gary Mckenna pulled two scores back to bring the Harps into double figures.

Gaels finish as they started to claim the hat-trick

Sensing the Harps’ resistance fading, Ultan Kelm struck another superb two-pointer before Dan McCann added a fine score, then saw a goal-bound effort brilliantly saved by Harps goalkeeper Jack Kelly.

Harps got what looked like one last lifeline through a bizarre goal, as Jack McCann blocked an initial goal attempt before a half-shot from Michael Duffy bobbled past everyone and into the Gaels net.

It was in vain, though, as the fantastic Tommy McCaffrey charged up the pitch to score a great point, before Ultan Kelm tapped over an easy score following another defensive lapse from Harps.

Another goal chance looked to be on for Derrygonnelly, but Mimnagh forced the ball out and Lee Jones had to settle for a point.

With the game wrapped up, there was still time for Tommy McCaffrey and Ultan O’Reilly to add the final scores and send the Belleek fans into raptures, as Erne Gaels sealed their third consecutive title with arguably their finest performance.