A late, late Damien Kelly point was enough to see John McElroy’s Tempo side clinch both points away to Erne Gaels on Sunday past.

Eddie O’Reilly, who was in his first game in charge of Erne Gaels, felt his side’s shooting let themselves down but on the day had no qualms about the result.

“It was a disappointing start to the campaign,” he said. “Tempo were the sharper side and around the middle they cleaned us out on winning breaking ball. We got it level with the second goal but we just didn’t push on for the win which I thought we could have. Tempo were the more accurate side in front of goal and I can have no complaints on the scoreline.” Tempo came into the game as favourites and showed enough throughout to prove that they will be a side tough to beat this season.

The away side were to go ahead first as points from Daryl Keenan and Niall McElroy settled down the Maguires.

Erne Gaels finally split the posts when Barry McCann scored a delightful free from some 40 yards out. Tempo though were giving Erne Gaels plenty of headaches around the middle and Damien Kelly raced forward a full 35 yards before off loading to Neil Rogers who pointed to make it 0-03 to 0-01 after 14 minutes.

Tempo were to forge ahead further when midfielder Niall McElroy pointed and all of a sudden Tempo were 0-04 to 0-01 up with 18 played.

Erne Gaels though were to break out of defence at pace through Daire Keown whose ball found the running Seamus Ryder. He then placed a delicate flick into the path of Tomas McCaffrey who finished to the back of the net to bring the sides all level after 24 minutes.

Further points were then exchanged from Barry McCann and Ryan Keenan before a well worked Tempo goal was hit to the net by the excellent Daryl Keenan. Late in the half Erne Gaels duo Seamus Ryder and Tomas McCaffrey both pointed to make it 1-04 to 1-05 to Tempo at half time.

Into the second half, and once again Tempo were to score first from Daryl Keenan as the game seen a host of chances either go wide or drop short.

Erne Gaels’ duo Tomas McCaffrey and Ryan Lyons combined for the latter to point to make it 1-05 to 1-06 with just over 20 minutes remaining. Tempo added on further scores though from Declan McCarron and Darryl Keenan to give them a three point lead but Erne Gaels were to steal up the pitch with just six minutes remaining for Mark Lyons to powerfully drive home an angled shot to the roof of the net to bring the sides all level.

Both sides had chances then to win the game but it was Tempo’s Damien Kelly that kept the cool head to run through the Erne Gaels defence and pop over the winning point at the end to give Tempo the opening points of round one.