London GAA beat Fermanagh All-Ireland football

Sceala Philosopher Location: Ireland

It had to happen sooner or later. A historic win for London today, first All-Ireland football victory this century for London and first All-Ireland football win for over 34 years.
At half time London were leading 0-09 to 0-01. London really deserved to win this match. London 0-15 Fermanagh 0-09

The wait is over - London celebrate their first Championship win in 34 years
London recorded their first GAA Championship win since 1977 as they claimed the scalp of Fermanagh in the first round of the All-Ireland football qualifiers at Ruislip.

The Exiles' first ever victory in the qualifiers was founded on a strong first-half display, during which they showed plenty of endeavour and desire to win.
Fermanagh, hoping to bounce back from a heavy provincial defeat to Derry, looked lethargic at times and were second best for most of this encounter.

A shock result was on the cards when Paul Coggins' London side went in at half-time 0-09 to 0-01 to the good. On the down side, they had registered seven wides and hit the woodwork twice.
Points from Padraig McGoldrick and Eoin O'Neill set the wind-backed Londoners on their way, with Tomás Corrigan notching Fermanagh's only response.
John O'Flanaghan struck 0-05 for the Ernesiders in a much more competitive second period, but a late run of scores from Ciaran McCallion, Killian Phair and Cathal O'Sullivan booked London's place in the second-round draw.
Fermanagh manager John O'Neill predicted 'a dogfight' and his assistant Syl Mulrone spoke beforehand about the sole target of 'just being in front at the final whistle'.

London knew that their heroics in almost knocking Mayo out of the Connacht Championship would count for little if they failed to produce a follow-up performance.
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London went very close against the mighty Mayo.
And with a steady breeze behind them they duly hit the ground running here, knocking over three points in the opening nine minutes through Connacht men McGoldrick and O'Neill (0-02).
In humid conditions, corner-forward Kevin O'Leary clipped over the fourth but the Exiles' early advantage could have been more - they hit five wides in the first quarter-hour.
Paul Geraghty, the Man of the Match against Mayo, stretched the lead in the 25th minute and fellow Galway man Mark Gottsche followed suit four minutes later.
London hurried their shots on some occasions, but they were on top in most facets of play and kept Fermanagh pinned back as they flooded forward.
Fermanagh drew breath and set up Corrigan for a much-needed 31st-minute score, making it 0-06 to 0-01 on the scoreboard.
But O'Leary, rock-solid centre-back Tony Gaughan and O'Neill (free) soon found the target to put eight points between the sides at the break. All bar one of London's first-half scores came from play.

When these sides met in the Allianz League in April, Fermanagh claimed a 0-14 to 0-08 victory at Brewster Park. However, London have strengthened their panel considerably since then and their hunger to break their Championship duck was written all over this performance.
John O'Flanaghan and O'Neill (free) exchanged points at the start of the second half, and two more from Brian Óg Maguire and O'Flanaghan (free) showed Fermanagh were up for the fight.
With the wind increasing in strength, the visitors were winning more ball around the middle - captain Barry Owens was moved there - and making better use of it, with O'Flanaghan cancelling out a McCallion point.
O'Flanaghan took his tally to 0-04 as London's advantage was cut to 0-11 to 0-06 with 20 minutes remaining, yet there were no signs of the Exiles panicking and a surefooted score from McGoldrick kept them on course for victory.
Daniel Kille and O'Flanaghan punished some indiscipline with back-to-back pointed frees, reducing the arrears to four with nine minutes to go.
Nevertheless, London, maintaining a high work-rate around the pitch, closed the door on Fermanagh's comeback bid with three galvanising scores.

McCallion, Cavan native Phair and O'Sullivan reeled them off to confirm a famous and thoroughly deserved triumph for London over their Division 4 rivals.
London GAA beat Fermanagh All-Ireland football
London GAA
London GAA crest
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Irish: Londain
Province: Britain
Nickname(s): The Exiles
County colours: Green & White
Ground(s): Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
Oxley Park, Watford
Dominant sport: Hurling
Competitions
NFL: Division 4
NHL: Division 3A
Football Championship: Sam Maguire Cup
Hurling Championship: Nicky Rackard Cup
Ladies' Gaelic football: Brendan Martin Cup
Camogie: O'Duffy Cup
Standard kit

The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Londain) or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London. The county board is also responsible for the London inter-county teams
History
London played in three hurling and five football All Ireland finals in the early 1900s when the All-Ireland and All-Britain champions were paired in the final. London won the hurling All-Ireland in 1901, defeating Cork by 1-5 to 0-4. The experiment was abandoned after 1908. The early London teams of that era drew strongly on immigrants from the Cork area in particular. Sam Maguire, who captained many of the teams, came from Dunmanway. The GAA later dedicated the All-Ireland football cup to his honour.

London played the first ever recorded Composite rules Shinty/Hurling match with London Scottish in 1896.
Gaelic football
London entered the National Football League in 1993 and was initially fairly successful with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in their first campaign and the renewed effort coincided with a drive to establish the games in schools. London now fields its second team in the British Junior football and hurling Championships. Their first football team have competed in the Connacht Championship since 1975, but claim only one win in 21 years: a 0-9 to 0-6 defeat of Leitrim in 1977. After going down by 9-19 to 1-10 against Roscommon in 1980 they staged matches at home in Ruislip and came close to victory against Leitrim in 1987, Sligo in 1988 and Roscommon in 2005. Among their footballers was Brian Grealish, whose brother Tony played association football for the Republic of Ireland. In 2011, London defeated Fermanagh by 0-15 to 0-9 in Ruislip in the first round of the qualifiers. Needless to say, them incompetent Northies were pissed.
Honours
All-Ireland Junior Football Championships: 6
1938, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1986
McGrath Cups: 1
1988

Notable former players
Edward Barrett
Sam Maguire
Jody Gormley
Tommy McGuire
Tony Grealish
Michael Collins

Hurling
London have a strong hurling tradition, and besides their All-Ireland win in 1901 they have also won three B All-Irelands in the last twenty years, and claim consistently good results in the National Hurling League. As a mid-table Division 2 side, London are actually placed above half the counties of Ireland, in strong contrast to their role as "whipping boys" in football. The Exiles also won the inaugural Nicky Rackard Cup in 2005, defeating Louth's hurlers by 15 points in the final. London are currently competing in the 2009 Nicky Rackard Cup. In the 1973 All-Ireland hurling championship a London team that included six Galwaymen beat Galway by 4-7 to 3-5 in the All-Ireland quarter-final at Ballinasloe. Galwaymen Frank Canning and Lennie Burke scored three of the goals against their old county!
Honours
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships: 1
1901
All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championships: 3
1987, 1990, 1995
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championships: 5
1963
Nicky Rackard Cups: 2
2005, 2011
Kehoe Cups: 2
1987, 1988

Ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies Football in London has mirrored the growth seen in Ireland, where it is the fastest growing ladies game. In London Parnells are senior champions and Fulham Irish are Junior champions for 2010. Many clubs now have ladies teams. Senior teams are Parnells, Kerry Kingdom Gaels, Fr Murphys, Holloway Gaels and Taras. Junior teams in London 2010 are Fulham Irish, Clonbony,Taras (Junior), Claddagh Gaels (Luton) and Dulwich Harps. In 2011, St Anthonys (Reading) join the Junior ranks
Honours
All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship 2
1993, 2008
All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship Finalists: 1
2007
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London GAA beat Fermanagh All-Ireland football