Flynn’s winner, a monumental score worthy of winning any contest, came after Fenagh recovered from a six point deficit early in the first half to twice take the lead in the final quarter but they were unable to find a way to killer off the indomitable will of the champions who know just how close they came to an exit.
It didn’t look like that early on as Keith Beirne, back in the starting line-up for the first time in this campaign, hit six first half points, Fenagh seemingly at sixes and sevens and Mohill making light of their lack of testing so far in the championship.
Fenagh trailed by four at the break, not insurmountable but with Ryan O’Rourke apparently suffering a hamstring injury just before halftime, their chances looked bleak. Yet it was then that they summoned up their warrior’s spirit, hitting Mohill for 1-1 inside the first two minutes of the second half to take the game level.
From then on, it was a dogfight as Mohill, seemingly in cruise control, found themselves on the backfoot against a resilient St Caillins side, Riordan O’Rourke taking up the slack left by the departure of his cousin Ryan to cause Mohill enormous problems.
Mohill were on the ropes but Fenagh couldn’t delivered the knockout punch - sub Fergal McLoughlin shot two wides while they looked nailed on certainties to score when Donal Wrynn plucked a long ball from the air. Instead of claiming a mark, he opted to play onto Riordan O’Rourke who seemed to have a step on David Mitchell.
But the Mohill corner-back stuck tigerishly to his task, closing in on O’Rourke before making a superb full length diving block before recovering the ball and winning a free. It was not a block without cost as Mitchell injured his arm blocking the ball but it proved to be a match winning contribution.
Mohill’s full-back line of the Mitchell brothers and Ryan Bohan were immense all day as they closed down the Mohill defence, Shane Quinn gave a masterclass in leadership but for me, Keith Keegan was the clear and outstanding choice as man of the match, dragging Mohill back into the game when all was lost.
Credit Fenagh for their resilience but hauntingly, this will seem like the same old story as, just like last year, they fell well behind their neighbours, launched an improbable rescue mission that almost came off but came up just short.
Riordan O’Rourke was outstanding for Fenagh, Conor Dwyer, Donal Wrynn, Eoin McLoughlin and Mark Keegan delivered superb displays but heartbreakingly for them, it was just not enough once more at the semi-final stage.
The Mohill team who defeated Fenagh St Caillins on Saturday in Ballinamore Picture: Willie Donnellan
Fenagh made the early running but two Riordan O’Rourke shots came to nothing, one punched clear, the second fisted wide and Mohill hit the ground running, Fiachra McGuinness finding Keith Beirne whose shot just crept inside the post on three minutes.
Beiren quickly added three frees as many minutes between the fifth and eighth minute as Mohill were lording the game. Beirne hit his first wide, matched when Ryan O’Rourke had a wide and it looked ominous when Keith Keegan finished a strong run with a fine point 11 minutes in.
Nothing was going right for Fenagh - Riordan O’Rourke shot wide, Mark Keegan’s shot looked good until it hit the wood and when Beirne converted another free, for a late hit, the champions led six points to nothing after 16 minutes.
Donal Wrynn opened Fenagh’s account, a fine point from a tight angle and after an Oisin McLoughlin shot was blocked by an outstretched boot, Ryan O’Rourke converted a free. Twenty-one minutes in, the gap was halved as Ryan O’Rourke finished a patient Fenagh move with a fine point.
However, Mohill were just as effective - Jordan Reynolds’ pass into the corner found Fiachra McGuinness for a good point, a goal may have been on and James Mitchell raided upfield to help Beirne notch his second from play. Worryingly for Fenagh, Mitchell was able to do that as Ryan O’Rourke appeared to pull up sharply with a hamstring strain.
Both teams hit wide before a quick break saw sub James Gilheany, on for Daniel McLoughlin, fire over. Incredibly, Fenagh had the chance to go in a point down but David Mitchell made a huge block on a Riordan O’Rourke shot, the ball deflected off Ryan Bohan and away from danger as Mohill led 0-8 to -0-4 at the break.
With Ryan O’Rourke heavily strapped when he came back out, it didn’t look good for Fenagh but they quickly wiped out Mohill’s four point advantage, starting with a fine curling Riordan O’Rourke score.
Having earlier bombed in a high ball on top of Donal Wrynn, Fenagh repeated the dose but this time with success as the former Leitrim captain connected to send the ball to the Mohill net and really energise the crowd.
Mohill steadied, sub Matthew Murphy helped set up McGuinness for a second point but as both teams hit poor wides, a Riordan O’Rourke free tied the scores on 13 minutes. Mohill were now missing chances, two good ones, and Fenagh took advantage of it when Riordan O’Rourke worked himself some space and dropped a shot in that Padraig Tighe had to divert over the bar.
That put Fenagh in front on the three quarter mark for the first time but when Keith Beirne played a long ball into Keith Keegan, the impressive midfielder opted to play on instead of taking the mark and released Jordan Reynolds for a fisted effort that went over via the woodwork.
But again Fenagh responded, Riordan O’Rourke converting a mark but a strong Shane Quinn run saw him get the ball to Keegan. His shot was deflected but Shane Doonan had to divert the ball over the crossbar to prevent a goal and we were level once more with less than five minutes to go.
Both teams had chances, Keith Beirne shot wide, sub Fergal McLoughlin had two wides while, most crucially, David Mitchell made a game winning block on a Riordan O’Rourke shot after a high ball into Donal Wrynn. The block actually forced Mitchell from the action but, deep into injury time, it was a game winner.
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And that was how it turned out to be - Mohill launched one late attack, Domhnaill Flynn fired a monster that looked on target but then seemed to be veering wide before sneaking inside the far post to spark wild Mohill celebrations.
Fenagh tried to work an equalising chance but with the three minutes of added time elapsed, referee Mark McCloskey blew the long whistle to Mohil’s relief and Fenagh’s heartbreak.
MOHILL
Scorers: Keith Beirne 0-6, 4f; Keith Keegan & Fiachra McGuinness 0-2 each; Jordan Reynolds & Domhnaill Flynn 0-1 each
Team: Padraig Tighe, David Mitchell, James Mitchell, Ryan Bohan, Sean Harkin, Shane Quinn, Jack Rowley, Keith Keegan, Domhnaill Flynn, Tadhg Mulligan, Keith Beirne, Evan Harkin, Fiachra McGuinness, Conor Quinn, Jordan Reynolds. Subs: Matthew Murphy for Mulligan (HT); Donal Duignan for D Mitchell (62)
FENAGH ST CAILLINS
Scorers: Riordan O’Rourke 0-4, 1f, 1M; Donal Wrynn 1-1; Ryan O’Rourke 0-2, 1f; James Gilheany 0-1
Team: Shane Doonan, Aaron McLoughlin, Gary Butler, Conal McGovern, Colm McLoughlin, Conor Dwyer, Eoin McLoughlin, Jack Gilheany, Donal Wrynn, Tom Gilheany, Ryan O’Rourke, Mark Keegan, Daniel McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, Oisin McLoughlin. Subs: James Gilheany for D McLoughlin (25); Fergal McLoughlin for Ryan O’Rourke (37)
Referee: Mark McCloskey
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