NEWTOWNBUTLER ................... 0-7

ENNISKILLEN GAELS ................ 2-9

Two Michael Kerr goals in the opening half proved to be the decisive scores, jumping Enniskillen into a comfortable interval lead and in the second half the Gaels were not to be unduly threatened.

In the end it was a straight forward enough success for the visiting Gaels in a contest which didn't really live up to expectation.

Part of the reason for this was that the home side was to be considerably understrength and in a season which so far has seen them perform erratically, they would need a full complement on board if they are to make progress.

Once again the First Fermanagh's were far too dependent for scores from placed kicks.

Colm Monaghan has proved to be an accurate kicker for them on an admirably consistent basis, but the lack of scores coming from open play continues to be a major problem for them.

They could however point to the fact that on this occasion they were operating with a skeleton forward line.

Not that the Enniskillen scoresheet showed a particularly broader swathe of marksmen.

Kerr knocked in the two goals while Matthew Keenan chipped in with half a dozen points, four of these coming from frees.

Ronan McCabe was to be the only other Enniskillen name on the final scoretally, he had three scores to his credit, two coming from placed balls.

Play was evenly enough balanced over the first quarter but on twenty minutes the Gaels were to make a decisive move forward as they grabbed their first goal and this gave their game an impetus.

Some six minutes later they celebrated Kerr's second goal of the evening and this score certainly deflated the home side.

The two goal strike from Kerr was to separate the teams at the break and given the fact that Newtown had been offering little sign that they would be capable of raising the level of their game the contest was essentially decided.

A three point total for Newtown in the second half, all successful frees from Monaghan with McCabe and Keenan combining to shoot a five point answer for Enniskillen and in the end this was a clearcut win for the visitors.

For the Gaels, Paul Brewster had a good hour around the centre of the park, Ryan McCluskey marshalled efficiently back in defence and others to show up well were Niall and Matthew Keenan with Kerr impressing with his goal touch.

For Newtown, Eugene Maguire battled gamely in the back sector with Ryan Carson and Sean Monaghan also having occasional spells but overall the home side delivered little.

Referee Martin Higgins Lisnaskea.