Derrygonnelly 1-17 Teemore 1-08

Derrygonnelly opened up their defence of the New York Cup with what in the end was a comfortable nine-point win at home to Teemore on Sunday evening in a tough, physical encounter..

The Shamrocks had made a dream start to the contest as they raced into an early 1-02 to 0-01 lead, but the Harps slowly began to get to grips with matters to take a one-point advantage in at the break.

And Derrygonnelly dominated matters in the second half as they pulled away to record the victory.

“I thought we put in a good solid performance against a strong Teemore team and deserved the win,” said Harps joint Manager Mick Glynn.

And Derrygonnelly will now be hoping to make it two wins out of two when they take on Belnaleck this Sunday, although Glynn expects it to be a difficult test.

“Belnaleck away will be another very tough assignment but we will prepare well during the week and hope to perform well again,” he added.

Teemore host Erne Gaels on Sunday and Shamrocks Manager Barry Owens wants to see his side replicate the performance they produced in the first half against Derrygonnelly over the full hour.

“Belleek is going to be another massive test but our lads will be up for the fight and if we show the sort of drive that we did in the first half then we’ll not be far away. They have good players all over the pitch and we’ll have to keep going for the whole game,” said Owens.

Of the defeat to Derrygonnelly, Owens felt that the loss of key men to injury proved costly.

“We were disappointed at the end,” he said.

“We felt we were good enough to get something out of the game but the loss of Jason [McCaffrey] and Paul Doherty around the middle left us short on a bit of physicality and Derrygonnelly dominated us in that area after that. They showed why they’re champions and it’ll take a really good team to beat them.”

Teemore got off to the perfect start to the game as Ronan McCaffrey and Eoin McManus rattled over early frees for the Shamrocks. Leigh Jones replied with a good effort for Derrygonnelly, but Teemore were then awarded a penalty in the eighth minute.

Eoin McManus was deemed to have been fouled as he contested a high ball and the full forward dusted himself down before confidently slotting his spot kick into the corner of Jack Kelly’s goal to make it 1-02 to 0-01.

The home side though responded to this with the next four points as they started to settle into the encounter.

Youngster Connor McGovern lofted over a fine effort and this was followed by a Conall Jones free. Garvan Jones, who was influential in getting the Harps back into the game, then knocked over a point from play and another from a free to make it 0-05 to 1-02.

An Eoin McManus free edged Teemore back ahead in the 20th minute, but Derrygonnelly were now in the ascendancy and Ryan Jones and Garvan Jones tagged on points to give the home side the lead for the first time in the game.

Teemore answered with a terrific point from Ronan McCaffrey but it was Derrygonnelly who went in at the break with their noses in front as McGovern slipped over a good score from the left to leave it 0-08 to 1-04 at the interval.

The Shamrocks needed to get off to a good start to the second half but instead it was Derrygonnelly who took control, with Ryan Jones dominant at midfield.

Conall Jones put them three ahead with two frees and this was followed by points from Garvan Jones, Aidy McKenna, Stephen McGullion and Conall Jones again pushed them into a commanding 0-14 to 1-04 advantage by the midway stage of the half.

Teemore though continued to battle and Niall Clarke registered their first score of the half with a fine point from distance before Damian Lee and Eoin McManus added on further points.

A converted 45 from Conall Jones though had kept the scoreboard ticking over for Teemore, and he then tagged on a point from a free while substitute Paul Ward also landed a score to make it 0-17 to 1-07.

With the game in added-on time, Stephen McGullion then netted the Harps goal as he spun and fired home from close range, and although McManus knocked over a late free for Teemore, it was only a consolation score as Derrygonnelly finished up 1-17 to 1-08 victors.

Scorers:

Derrygonnelly: C Jones 0-06 (4f, 1'45); G Jones 0-04 (1f); S McGullion 1-01; C McGovern 0-02; L Jones 0-01; R Jones 0-01; A McKenna 0-01; P Ward 0-01

Teemore: E McManus 1-04 (1-00pen, 4f); R McCaffrey 0-02 (1f); N Clarke 0-01; D Lee 0-01