By Mark McGoldrick

NOT for the first this season, Brandon Horan produced a standout performance for Enniskillen.

The big midfielder played a pivotal role for the Gaels on Sunday, winning primary possession from kickouts and linking up play from defence to attack, as well as chipping in with a sweetly struck score midway through the second half.

His strong performance saw Horan receive the Monaghan Bros Fermanagh GAA TV ‘Man of the Match’ award.

He admitted that the individual accolade made Sunday’s success that extra bit more ‘sweet.’

“The main thing was getting the win here today [Sunday],” said Horan.

“Honestly, about 10 other boys could have got ‘Man of the Match’, and I’m just lucky enough to get it.”

To win the New York Cup in just his second year of playing senior football was ‘unbelievable’, said the 21-year-old.

“To win something with your club is the best thing that there is in Gaelic [football], to be honest,” Horan said.

“You live with these people, you are born with them, you die with them. You always stay with your club. To finally win a senior championship is unbelievable, that’s how I’d describe it.”

Horan is certainly no stranger to success.

The midfield maestro was part of the Enniskillen Gaels minor team which won the Ulster Club Championship in 2018, and he later captained St Michael’s College to the MacRory and Hogan Cup titles.

Sunday’s victory topped the lot for the Ulster University student.

“Club is the most important thing. The club will always be there for you and to achieve something with these people is great,” he said. “This is up there with the best.”

To win along with his younger brother, Josh, was also extra special.

“Josh [Horan] is my biggest critic at times, he’ll tell you that,” he smiled.

“It’s a nice feeling when you win with your brother. I’ve won a couple of trophies with him now, so long may it continue.”

Horan was involved in two of the three Enniskillen goals, which both came from winning possession from the Erne Gaels kickout.

The Gaels number eight was pleased that his teammates took their chances up front.

“We knew if we could get the ball into the forwards that we would get goals and thankfully we got three today. I think we only had three goal chances and we scored the three,” he said.

“We know that we have the quality in the forward line to do damage and we proved that
there today.”

He also paid credit to the hard-working Enniskillen defenders.

“James Ferguson was throwing his head in where people wouldn’t put their foot,” said Horan.

“That is what sets the tone, the defence, but the forwards are the real quality players and when they got the ball they did damage.”

Horan and his teammates now turn their attention to the Ulster Club Championship and a home tie against Cavan champions Gowna in two weeks’ time.

He isn’t paying much attention to that just yet though.

“Today [Sunday] was the main focus, winning that first senior championship,” Horan said. “We have two weeks to prepare now and we’ll celebrate, but we’ll get back to training on Wednesday.”