Fermanagh All-Ireland Junior Football Champions 1959

£34.50

Fermanagh played and defeated Kerry in the home final on September 20th 1959 in Croke Park. An early Maguire point a goal by McGurn give Fermanagh a 1-5 to 0-0 lead after 20 minutes. John O’Neill was in top form in goals, saving a certain goal to leave Fermanagh leading at half-time by 1-7 to Kerry’s 0-1. The Kingdom made a strong comeback in the second half but the Fermanagh team dug in and won on a score line of 1-13 to 2-3. As a result of winning this home final, Fermanagh then progressed onto what was then known as the “The Final”. “The ‘Final” was played in New Etham Stadium in London on Sunday 11th October 1959 and the opposition was the British Senior Champions London. The opening half was very close with the teams level at half time, Fermanagh 0-5, London 1-2, with Brewster, McGurn, Clerkin and Sreenan (2) hitting points for Fermanagh and London scoring a goal from a penalty by Harrison. Fermanagh dominated the early part of the second half with Maguire finding the back of the London net. Although London scored a late goal Fermanagh were not to be denied their moment of history, Fermanagh 1-11, London 2-4. Roslea’s finest Owen Clerkin had the honour of lifting the Independent Cup on that memorable day.
The Fermanagh team returned home the following Tuesday and they were met on the Monaghan/ Fermanagh border at Clontivrin. They paraded through Newtownbutler and Lisnaskea and then in Enniskillen over 10,000 people met them.

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