FERMANAGH HURLING SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ñ 2008 Sunday 24 August, 2008 Lisbellaw St Patrick's (The holders), 3 gls. 14 pts; Lisnaskea Emmett's, 0 gl.  11 pts. Lisbellaw senior players celebrated their fortieth year as a hurling club by effortlessly retaining the McKeown, when they completely vanquished their opponents Lisbellaw in a largely one sided contest by a score of 3 goals 14 points to 11 points for the well beaten Emmett's side.  Though it was the ëSkea sides through their iconic talisman Jason McManus who rather quickly got this game of to a brisk scoring when pointed from a previously close in free. Shortly after the latter's twin brother Paul and centre half forward increased they Emmett's scoring his sides point also from a free.  Then with play settling down Lisbellaw now got to the park's score board, when they to were awarded a free, which was effortlessly despatched over the crossbar by St Patrick's mid-fielder Ryan Bogue.  Now with a sixth of this match gone they latter's team mate and centre half forward Declan McGarry fired over from play Lisbellaw's second point to bring this match's scoring to 2 points each. Thus creating this games first draw.  However that games equilibrium lasted for a very short duration, when it was ended by the last by the game's last scorer who now put his side in front when pucked over his second and his side's third point. Lisbellaw now doubled their scoring difference over their arch rivals when their wonder and left full forward Sean Corrigan stepped up to the scoring plate when he popped over his second and his side's third  point.  The still scoring in touch Lisnaskea pegged one back from the very inform Paul McManus which now put the early match scoring as 4 points to 3 points for the Emmett's lads.  Then as this games first quarter was ebbing away the last player created this matches' second draw when he pucked over from a free. Lisbellaw's reaction to the latter score was quick and devastating, when after the St Patrick's side forced Skea to concede a '65 which St Patrick's full; forward Mark Slevin very dramatically floated over backs and forwards for the games first goal. The reaction from still focussed Skea was quick but modest when the Emmett's left half forward Paul McGolderick tagged back his opponent's ever widening lead when he popped over from play a moral boosting point for the east Fermanagh side to bring this matches scoring as 1 goal 4 points for Lisbellaw to 5 points for Lisnaskea .  Now as this match was entering its second quarter the Cavanacarragh based side now firmly in this games driving seat, quickly cancelled out their modest lead over their now visibly wilting opponents when their mid-fielder Ryan Bogue pucked over for his second and his fifth point and his sides sixth score and.  Lisbellaw now raced firmly and forcefully up the games scoring plate when their very inform left full forward Sean Corrigan blasted home his side's second goal from play.  The last player now changed scoring tactics when he went aerial and popped over his second and his sides sixth from play.  Now the games interval beckoning in the near distance the semi-resurgent ëSkea side were awarded a mid-field free which their score-in-chief Paul McManus pucked over his fourth and his side's sixth point.  That latter ëSkea score was answered by St Patrick's right full forward John Duffy who popped over from play for his first and his sides seventh point.  Lisbellaw went further ahead when enigmatic talisman, captain and centre full forward Karl Keogh pounced on an incoming slithor and then went on a short diverting run through the heart of the ëSkea defence and whilst doing so fired over a great first and his sides eighth point. However the opening half's last score was correctly attributed to the ace Skea hurler Paul McManus who valiantly attempted with his fifth and his sides seventh point to keep his visibly keep his side in this scoring contest.  As soon as the Armagh referee Gerard Devlin blew the half time whistle both teams trooped of the park one with a noticeably air of potential victory on their countenance.  They other seriously in need of serious tactical and strategy reappraisal.  Half-time scores Lisbellaw St Patrick's, 2 gls. 8 pts; Lisnaskea Emmett's, 0 gl. 7 pts. Second half Lisbellaw pile on the scores. As in this games first half it was the Emmett's who scored first, when their almost sole marksman Paul McManus twice pucked over from a previously awarded close in frees to attempt to narrow enormous scoring difference between the teams.  And as in this matches opening half the St Patrick's side belatedly got their scoring game going, when mid-fielder Ryan Bogue fired over his third and his side's ninth point.  As this matches fourth and final quarter was fast beckoning the indefatigably Paul McManus raced up to the games scoring plate, when he guided over his seventh and his sides tenth pint.  That penultimate ëSkea score was immediately answered by his St Patrick's scoring adversary Ryan Bogue who pucked his fourth and sides tenth point to bring the early first half scoring to 2 goals 10 points for Lisbellaw to 10 points for Lisnaskea.  The ëSkea centre half forward Paul McManus would have not have been oblivious to the scoring gulf that had opened between his team and their opponents.  He however doesn't have a dictionary containing the word defeat and continued to encourage his brother Jason and other team mates to continue battling on the games end.  With less that a quarter of this game to be played, this matches undisputed masters Lisbellaw set about retaining the McKeown trophy in no uncertain manner. Though the conceded one more score, an eleventh point on the matches twenty second minute from the Emmett's sole marksman Paul McManus, it was the St Patrick's side who were ringing the scoring changes from frees and from play.  Just prior the ëSkea centre forwards last score, Lisbellaw's centre half back  Declan McGarry in almost carbon copy of the a previous first half '65 goal had the green flag raised when from mid-field he fired in for Lisbellaw's third and final goal. Now with games final minutes fast ebbing away the Lisbellaw lads refused to let up in their and added a further three points from firstly from Ryan Bogue  when he pucked over fourth point  from play. Then within hearing distance of the referee's whistle Sean Corrigan fired over his third and his side's thirteenth point.  This game's last score came from the silky hands of full forward Karl Keogh who with his last puck of the game registered his second and his side's fourteenth point.  Thus ended the Fermanagh Senior Championship Hurling Final of 2008.which all the Lisbellaw lads starred, but no more than their centre half back Declan McGarry who's high fielding, counter attacking and above scoring made him unquestionably man of the match. Final scores Lisbellaw St Patrick's (The holders), 3 gls. 14 pts; Lisnaskea Emmett's, 0 gl.  11 pts. Referee, Gerard Devlin, Armagh. Teams, Lisbellaw St Patrick's, Paul McCarney, Colum Rice, Cathal McGarry, Fergus Bannon, J.P. McGarry, Declan McGarry, Declan McGarry (1 gl. 2 pts), Mathew Teague, Ryan Bogue (4 pts.), Rory O'Donnell, John Duffy ( 2 pts.), Karl Keogh, Capt. ( 2 pts.), David Slevin, Andrew Breslin, Mark Slevin ( 1 gl. 1 pt.), Sean Corrigan ( 1 gl. 3 pts.). Subs. Peter McEvoy, Brendan McGarry on for Andrew Breslin, Gerry Murphy on for Rory O'Donnell, Cathal McTeague, Brian Jones, Connor Brannigan, Franz Holenvseverz, Dermot Curran & Stephen Brannigan. Lisnaskea Emmett's, Paul Jackman, Micky Beggan, Mark Curran, Eoin Mahon, Jason McManus ( 1pt.), Francie McBrien, Malachy Gunn, Shea Curran, Paul McManus ( 8  pts.), Paul Mc Golderick (1 pt.), Kevin Smith, Vinny Smyth, Stephen Smyth. Subs, Stephen Rice, Paul Teague, Barry Curran, Jason Curran, Sean McCusker, Emon Curran, Mickey Fee, Nial Lunney, Kevin Shine, Frank Curran & Neil McGolderick. Presentation In a short but impressive presentation ceremony speech the Fermanagh Hurling Board congratulated both teams inn the final and then presented the McKeown Cup to the Lisbellaw captain Karl Keogh who thanked amongst many the Gaels Club, the Lisbellaw senior hurling management and finally the many St Patrick's supporters for their loyalty to the senior team throughout the year.  He then held the McKeown Cup much to the appreciation of the Lisbellaw supporters. Tweet

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