Devenish 0-16 Derrylin 0-08

Devenish opened their Intermediate Football Championship campaign in impressive fashion on Sunday with a resounding eight point victory over Derrylin in Garrison.

The home side took control of the contest from the off and held a 0-06 to 0-02 lead by the break.

And they then went on to pull away in the third quarter as they outscored Derrylin five points to one to ensure they they would pick up the points from this opening round robin game of the competition.

Devenish joint manager Marty O’Brien was delighted with his side’s display and knew it was important to make the most of their home game in the group.

“We’re very happy with the win,” said O’Brien.

”I think, looking across the board, home advantage was huge with I think only one away win so we knew going into the game that we needed to make that count.

“We put in a massive effort and I thought we controlled the game well.”

The Garrison side are on their travels this week when they go to Maguiresbridge and O’Brien is keen for his side to biuld on last week’s performance.

“We’re looking forward to this week, the shoe is on the other foot going up to the ‘Bridge, so we know we are up against it and they’ll be looking to make their home advantage count.

“They’re a bit of an unfamiliar foe for us as we haven’t played them in four or five years so we will be looking to our own performance again and really trying to build on last week and try to up the ante if we can,” he stated.

In tricky conditions, it was Devenish who dictated things in the early stages.

Terry O’Flanagan got them off the mark from a free in the first minute and he quickly added a second as the home side picked off a wayward kick out and the ball was fed to O’Flanagan who fisted over.

When Tom Treacy then stepped up to drill over a long range free gave Devenish a three point lead by the third minute.

Derrylin were struggling to get a foothold in the contest and Fionan O’Brien added a fourth for Devenish after a foul on Joe O’Brien while Joe O’Brien was then put through on goal but Derrylin goalkeeper Barry Murray got a crucial hand to the ball to knock it away from the Devenish attacker as he looked set to tap into the net.

Another Fionan O’Brien free increased the lead to five and although Derrylin were starting to see a lot more of the ball, they were struggling to translate that into scores.

The O’Connells finally got off the mark in the 23rd minute as Danny Leonard fired over after a good break from the middle of the park but Tom Treacy answered for Devenish from a free.

The last say of the half though went the way of Derrylin as Jake Smith converted a free to leave four in it at the break.

However, the home side went on to take the game away from Derrylin after the interval.

Goalkeeper Treacy drilled over a free before O’Flanagan punished Derrylin with a point after Jason Love had turned over possession.

Ruaidhri McGoldrick did reply with a point for the visitors after good work by Luke Flanagan but Devenish continued to dictate the play and Ruairi Maguire slotted over from play while O’Flanagan and Fionan O’Brien converted frees to make it 0-11 to 0-03 as the game entered the final quarter.

McGoldrick added his second point of the half when he fisted over but the gap was stretched to nine points as Luke Robinson rifled over a fine point while O’Brien knocked over a further free.

Derrylin then lost Louis Leonard for a spell in the sin bin although Jake Smith had a good goal chance when he latched on to a ball broken down by Donal McAvinue but the forward blasted over.

Devenish though tagged on further points from Maguire, O’Brien and Conor McGowan and although Eoin Maguire and Padraic Owens hit late points for Derrylin, they were only consolation scores as the Garrison outfit ran out comprehensive victors.