Derrygonnelly 2-14 Roslea 1-14

Roslea ran Derrygonnelly close, but in the end, the Harps made a winning start to the league campaign to add to their three points from the Club Players' Competition.

The hosts led by seven points at the break but after Ryan Jones was shown a red card Roslea came back into the contest and James McMahon’s penalty with five minutes to go gave Derrygonnelly a late scare.

The sides met just four weeks ago and they couldn’t be separated at six points apiece on that occasion.

“It was a hard-fought win,” said Derrygonnelly boss Paul Greene after the game.

“We’re happy to have got the win with plenty of things to work on.”

Greene’s side will return to action this Friday as they face an Erne Gaels that lost last time out to Belnaleck.

“We’re expecting a tough game on Friday," he added. "Erne Gaels will be looking to get back to winning ways and it’s always a very tough game with them.”

Two goals in quick succession midway through the first-half saw Derrygonnelly open up a lead on Friday night.

Gary McKenna converted a penalty and that was soon to be followed by a Garvan Jones goal as Declan Cassidy dispossessed the Roslea goalkeeper and fisted over for Jones to finish to the net.

Points either side of the goals from Jones, McKenna and Conor Burns gave Derrygonnelly a 2-06 score while Adam Treanor, a Caolan Rooney free and three points from James McMahon made up 0-05 for Roslea.

May’s meeting between the teams saw two black cards and two red cards and there would be more of the same at Canon Maguire Park as after Ryan Jones, was initially shown a black card, that changed to red after an altercation with the referee, to give Roslea a man advantage.

Garvan Jones, Burns, Oisin Smyth, Jarlath Flanagan, Stephen McGullion, Aidan McKenna and Patrick Duffy hit second-half points for the Harps while McMahon, Treanor, Niall Cosgrove and Adam Callaghan kept Roslea in it as McMahon scored a goal from the spot, taking his tally to 1-07, to test the home side’s nerves but they held on to the win.

“We made two daft errors to gift them goals in the first-half,” Roslea boss Ciaran Murphy said.

“I suppose we’re still missing a lot of men but our fightback was very good, although we were disappointed leaving having played well for large parts.”

Roslea face Derrylin at home this Friday: “They suffered a heavy defeat last week but they will be coming to get two points and get their season going.

"I suppose every team is carrying injuries and have boys away so it will be a difficult game but hopefully, we get our season up and running.”