Belcoo manager James McGrath aims to make their home patch a tough place for opponents to come and get points after he watched his side secure an opening day win at home to Tempo on Sunday.

Matthew McAloon’s fortuitous late goal was the decisive score as the O’Rahillys claimed a three point victory over the Maguires to get their campaign off to the perfect start and McGrath hopes to build on that in the next couple of weeks.

“You have to try and win your home games so it was pleasing to get this win and we are very happy with the two points,” he said. “It was a battling performance from us with the wind a big factor and the goal came at a great time as Tempo were back to within two points with the game coming to a close. To get the win is a boost for us and we will hope to build on this over the next two games.” Tempo manager Colm Bradley, who has a number of injury concerns at present, agreed that the goal came at an opportune moment for the home outfit but he accepted that the better team won on the day.

“The goal definitely came at the right time for them and it was a killer blow for us but in saying that the better team won. I thought that we battled hard in difficult conditions and we were on top in the second half but the goal gave them a cushion and we could not close the gap enough. We know we will have to improve on this although we have a lot of men missing over the next few weeks. However, that gives others a chance to come in and stake a place,” he commented.

Belcoo played with their wind at their backs in the first half and by the interval they had built up a five point advantage, 0-06 to 0-01.

The home side were quickly out of the blocks as Ciaran Flaherty opened the scoring following good work from Shane McCabe while Johnny Feeley then doubled the lead when he clipped over a free after Paul McGrath was fouled.

The O’Rahillys continued to have the upperhand and McCabe was involved again as he dispossessed Damian Kelly before the ball was worked to Flaherty who drove over from distance while Paul McGrath rattled over a further score to put four between them at the midway stage of the half.

Tempo, for whom Gary Leonard was influential at midfield until sustaining an injury, finally got off the mark when Ryan Keenan converted a free and the Maguires should have closed the gap further with Keenan having two more opportunities to add to their tally but failed to find the target.

And instead of reducing the arrears, the deficit grew before half time as Belcoo accounted for the final two points of the half with Feeley landing a point from play and McGrath drilled over a free to leave it 0-06 to 0-01.

Given the strength of the wind, Tempo were far from out of it though at the interval but it was Belcoo who were to register the first score of the second half as they stretched their lead out to six points.

McCabe, who was playing an unfamiliar role at centre half back, surged forward from his defensive berth before slipping the ball to Feeley who had time to fire over to make it 0-07 to 0-01.

From this though it was all Tempo as they slowly began to eat away at the home side’s lead. Damian Kelly landed two fine long range efforts and with Keenan clipping over two frees it brought the visitors back to within two points to leave it all to play for in the final stages.

However, they were then hit with real sucker blow as McAloon’s speculative attempt at a point dropped into the back of the net to put five in it, 1-07 to 0-05.

Keenan banged over two more frees for the Maguires as they left the goal between the sides but Belcoo were able to play possession football late on as they ran down the clock to record a three point victory.