Maguiresbridge 0-10 Belcoo 1-12

 

A strong first half display from Belcoo against the breeze saw them clinch a five point victory over Maguiresbridge last Friday.
It was a performance that built up a seven point lead going in at half-time and while the scoring average dropped in the second period, the visitors always had the Bridge at arms length.
Ciarán Flaherty got the opening score of the game from a mark but the Bridge answered immediately when Daniel Teague was found inside and he swung over a score with his left boot.
Daryl Kelly, another Flaherty mark and a Matthew McAloon point made it 0-04 to 0-01 as their forward line caused the Bridge plenty of problems.
Teague converted a free to keep his side in the hunt before McAloon got his second score of the day.
With 15 minutes played, Belcoo’s lead was extended when a great piece of play saw the ball get to McAloon and his precise ball found the onrushing Dean McDermott and he fired to the roof of the Bridge net.
It could have been a whole lot better for Belcoo when Flaherty was played in by Eoin Shiels but his left foot shot went over the bar.
Again Teague hit scores for the Bridge but Belcoo came back and two good scores from Shiels before Conor McAloon wrapped up the scoring with a great score to leave it 1-09 to 0-05.
In the second half, the Bridge stepped up their intensity and along with some poor shooting from Belcoo began to get on top.
Again Teague was to the fore from placed balls while Ciaran Corrigan and Dwayne Rice also chipped in points.
Daryl Kelly got his second point of the game after doing well to beat his marker and Conor McAloon also hit another beauty from out on the left.
Gary Doherty did make a fine save from Teague and there was another scare when a Corrigan shot across the goal richoceted of a Belcoo defender onto the post and out for a 45.
But Belcoo held on and their scoring was wrapped up by Matthew McAloon to give them win.
Speaking after the game Belcoo manager Barry Hanrahan said: “We were very pleased with our first half performance. Maguiresbridge came back at us in the second half and we maybe took the foot off the gas a little. 
“It’s always good to come away with the points when your away from home and it’s good to get the league off to a winning start.”
Hanrahan does expect his team to improve moving forward and that starts with their next game on Friday against Coa.
While Belcoo host Coa Maguiresbridge will travel to face Teemore.