Newly promoted Kinawley demonstrated their intention of becoming a permanent fixture in Division One with a well deserved win over Roslea on the opening day. The proverbial game of two halves with Kinawley enjoying a sizeable breeze in the first half to build up an eight point lead at the break before Roslea made use of the elements in the second half to stage a comeback that ultimately fell just short.

Crucially in that second half Kinawley were able to break out of defence on enough occasions and kick scores to ensure that the two points were secured. Shaun Doherty was the lynchpin of the home win with an excellent display in the middle of the field from where he time and again hit crucial scores. Another veteran who split the posts in timely fashion was Niall Bogue who marauded forward from defence to heave over a score in the second half when Roslea had reduced the deficit to just two points.

Kinawley manager, Mark Monaghan, was obviously delighted with the result after the game; “It’s just good to get a win the first day out. They were missing a few so we won’t read too much in to it but all the same to get two points against Roslea is something that we have to be happy with and the performance was pleasing too.”

His counter part, Brian Gormley, is not getting too concerned at this early stage; “I’m sure the wins will come and we won’t be panicking or anything like that. It’s a long season ahead and there will be a lot of twists and turns.”

Roslea were without the suspended Connor Quigley and the honeymooning Niall Cassidy while Sean Quigley picked up a knock in the first attack that hindered his influence on proceedings.

The first half was dominated by Kinawley with only Danny Mohan and Seamus Quigley from a free getting on the scoresheet for the visitors. At the other end Doherty,Sean McManus and Ciaran Melanaphy all regularly split the posts.

The second half saw Roslea came in to the game and with the dismissal of Patrick McGovern for a second yellow after just five minutes Kinawley were on the back foot. Brendan Sherlock was impressing for Roslea and chipping in with scores and James McMahon was really beginning to influence matters. The Shamrocks hit six points in a row but on a few occasions the final pass let them down when trying to create goal chances and in the end they just failed to reel in Kinawley who’s four second half points was enough to secure the win.