Kinawley got their first league win on Saturday evening, away to Maguirebridge. Brothers, Tomás and Ruairi Corrigan accounted for 1-16 of Kinawley’s total, as the visitors proved too much for Maguiresbridge to handle.

Ruairi Corrigan opened the scoring with two points from play before Andrew Breslin and Matthew Teague brought the sides level after six minutes. With 11 minutes on the clock Maguiresbridge broke through for a goal, with Andrew Breslin’s shot just crossing the line, despite Colin Maguire’s best attempt to keep it out.

The goal sparked Kinawley to life and they began to dominate midfield. Shaun Doherty, Colman Corrigan and Sean Leonard (ruadh) were picking up a lot of ball and feeding the forward line. Tomás Corrigan landed a free before he showed good instinct to cut out a back pass by a Maguiresbridge defender. Corrigan had the simple task of finishing the ball to the net from close range to give the Boru’s a one point lead.

Two more outstanding points from play, from Ruairi Corrigan, stretched their lead as the visitors started to pull away.

Tomás Corrigan tagged on another free before Colman Corrigan tapped over a point after Shea Keenan’s shot on goal was saved on the line. Corrigan was on hand to collect and kick Kinawley’s seventh point.

Shaun Doherty and Kevin Martin were working hard for Kinawley and up front the Corrigan’s continued to punish Maguiresbridge with their pace and trickery. Ruairi added another point before Kevin Martin showed a good turn of pace, laid the ball off to Ciarán Melanaphy and he landed a point.

With Kinawley leading by seven points, with only minutes remaining in the first half, Maguirebridge clawed their way back into the game with a goal.

A high ball over the defence caught Kinawley unawares and Matthew Teague drew on the ball and put it in the back of the net, to reduce the deficit. Tomás Corrigan finished with a free to leave five points between the sides at the break, on a score line of 2-02 to 1-10.

In the second half, Kinawley picked up where they left off. Four points from Tomás Corrigan (3 frees) and one from Shea Keenan gave Kinawley a ten point cushion. Sean Corrigan responded with a point after good work by Matthew Teague and Ryan Hyde but this was soon cancelled out by the Boru’s. Shea Keenan was on hand with another fine point for Kinawley.

With 13 minutes remaining Maguirebridge got a third goal, against the run of play. A well worked move involving Ciaran and Sean Corrigan was finished by Collum Rice. Mark Gavin tagged on a point but Kinawley continued to lord midfield and Maguirebridge struggled to get the ball. The home side could only muster one more point from a Matthew Teague free whilst Kinawley finished in style.

Three points from Tomás (2 frees) and two fine scores from Niall Bogue and Ruairi Corrigan, sealed the win for the Boru’s.

Maguirebridge Manager, Colum Courtney said afterwards: “We were probably short two or three players and it told. We lost around the midfield sector and when their goal went in our heads went down a bit. It’s only early days though, so we’ll learn from it.” Maguiresbridge were without the injured Daniel Teague, the suspended Niall Carson and Stephen Brannigan was unavailable at the weekend. Reflecting upon only his second game in charge, Courtney said: “It was a learning exercise for me too. I learnt things about different players and maybe I would have done a few things differently, if I was doing it again. But we’ll know better the next day.” The Corrigan brothers proved too hot to handle on Saturday evening and the Newtownbutler man admitted they struggled with the pacey forwards: “They’re good footballers. The difference was Kinawley won in midfield and got ball in to them whilst we just didn’t win enough ball in midfield.” Kinawley Manager, Brian Treacy said: “We were happy enough but we were slow to get going. I thought we played well in the second half.” Asked was he overly concerned about conceding three goals, he said: “We’re always concerned about conceding goals. As a group we were probably not focussed enough and it’s certainly something we need to work on.” The Corrigan brothers contributed significantly to the Kinawley cause on Saturday evening but Brian is quick to point out, it’s about the panel, not individuals: “There were a number of very good individual performances. As a group we played well in the second half. Ruairi had a good game but I think there is a lot more in Tomás. It was his first game in a couple of weeks and a player of his potential has certainly more to give.”