Derrygonnelly win battle of undefeated teams

An understrength Derrygonnelly Harps produced their “best performance of the season” according to their manager Sean Flanagan to see off highflying Kinawley by four points on Sunday.
The win keeps the Harps top of the league three points clear from Kinawley who remain second as results elsewhere mean it is a closely packed table below the top two teams. 
Derrygonnelly manager Sean Flanagan is delighted with the start his team has made and indeed the win on Sunday. 
“I felt the win was our best performance of the season so far,” stated Sean. “Kinawley were competitive throughout but I thought we had good possession of the ball. I thought we showed good patience on the ball and made the right choices when it counted. A couple of the scores that we conceded showed there is still plenty of room for improvement.” 
Sean was also pleased that Harps won well with key players like Ryan Jones, Conall Jones, Garvan Jones, Garvan McGinley and Paul Ward unavailable. 
“I think the group showed good know-how with so many missing to secure an important win against a previously unbeaten said,” said Sean. 
There was a big crowd in attendance for this keenly anticipated encounter but the Brian Borus were dealt a blow before the start with playmaker Ruairi Corrigan missing through injury. 
It was a cagey opening from both sides with plenty of possession football. 
Shane McGullion and the accurate Gary McKenna were on the scoreboard early for the Harps but the excellent Paul Breen scored from a free and play to keep the Brian Borus in touch. 
As the half progressed, Derrygonnelly started to make their possession count and an excellent point from Neil Gallagher and McKenna gain edged them in front before the crucial score of the half came when the Harps bagged their only goal of the game. Shane McGullion set up brother Stephen who raced through and buried the ball into the back of the net, giving Sean Hussey no chance in the Kinawley nets. 
Breen added his third and Kinawley’s third of the day while Colm Jones was also on target for Derrygonnelly to leave the half-time score reading 1-06 to 0-03 in favour of the Harps.
The second half saw Kinawley improve as they won more ball with Hussey’s accurate kick outs finding the likes of Niall Bogue and Shea Keenan to give the Brian Borus a foothold in the game. 
A free from Breen was cancelled out by two Gary McKenna frees before Kinawley hit three on the bounce in a seven minute spell that saw the Harps a bit rattled and definitely on the back foot, Ruairi McAloon, Donal Owens and Conor Murphy all getting on the scoresheet. 
But with Micky Jones impressing in defence, the Harps held firm and McKenna a free and one from play from Leigh Jones steadied the ship to make it 1-10 to 0-07. 
Both keepers were called into action to stop good goal chances before Colm Jones hit a superb point from an acute angle on the left, and Aidan McKenna pointed to leave the Harps well in command at 1-12 to 0-07. Kinawley battled to the end and Shea Keenan hit a great goal but they were merely consolation scores as the Harps won the battle of the two unbeaten sides. Kinawley missed the incision of Corrigan while the Harps will be pleased to have won with key men missing.