Enniskillen Galaxy 1 Derrychara United 7

Ryan O’Keefe bagged a hat-trick as Derrychara United thrashed Enniskillen Galaxy in the Division Two derby on Saturday.

Craig Johnston, Colin Domer and Billy McCann also got onto the scoresheet as Derrychara made it three wins from three games.

Derrychara Chairman Johnny Noble admitted that they were not at their best in the first half, but has been delighted with their flying start to the season under the new management team of Andy Reilly and assistant Ricky Mullan.

“We weren’t great in the first half, but I suppose coming in at 3-1 and knowing you have not played well is not a bad complaint to have,” he said.

“Anything that we are working on in training is coming to the fore on Saturdays, and the boys are buying into it. Galaxy were stubborn, and at 3-1 they had a few chances, but in the second half our fitness showed and they were tired.

‘A long season’

“Watching the boys at training, and watching Andy and Ricky working with them, everybody has bought into Andy’s way of playing and way of training, and as a Chairman I couldn’t be much happier with the way things are going, but we know it is a long season and we know Covid is going to rear its ugly head, so we have to take each game and each week as it comes.”

Derrychara were instantly on the front foot and opened the scoring seven minutes into the match when Ryan O’Keefe drifted past two defenders and crossed for Barry McCann to fire into the roof of the net.

Galaxy responded well, and after spurning two chances, they got back on level terms when Haydn Love found the bottom corner of the net.

Ryan O’Keefe was at the centre of everything Derrychara were putting together, and he restored their lead midway through the half.

He then hit the target with a free kick, and when the keeper spilled it, Colin Domer reacted quickest to stab the ball over the line.

Derrychara continued to dominate in the second half, and O’Keefe soon added his second of the match when he converted after a left wing cross from Craig Johnston.

The pair combined again to make it 5-1, with Johnston this time scoring after an O’Keefe pass.

Johnston added his second of the match with ten minutes remaining, and O’Keefe completed his hat-trick from close range to round off a comfortable victory.