Derrygonnelly 4-14 St. Patrick’s 2-08

Derrygonnelly made it four wins from four in the Club Players’ Competition with a 12 point win at home to St. Patrick’s last Friday.

It ensured the Harps take the maximum three points into the Senior League later this month, while Donagh, despite losing, finished second in the group which gives them two points to bring forward to the league on their return to the top flight.

Three goals in the first half saw the winners hold a 3-08 to 1-05 lead and while the scoring dried up a bit in the second half, Derrygonnelly were never really troubled.

For Harps manager, Mick Glynn, he felt the early goals helped his side to victory:

“Both teams played attacking football which resulted in a high scoring game.

“We got a few goals early on which provided a cushion throughout the game.”

Commenting on how his side performed in the Club Players’ Competition, Glynn added: “Overall we are happy enough with the Club Players’ League but the serious business only begins with the start of the league proper.”

The winners were the first to register a score from Declan Cassidy followed by points from Stephen Gilroy and the impressive Connor McGovern.

It was McGovern who would find the net twice in a short space of time to put Derrygonnelly in control.

After winning a long ball in from Conor Burns, McGovern cut through the Donagh rearguard before firing past Shaun Montgomery.

Oisin Smyth then came up from fullback to register a point before McGovern got his second goal as he opened up the Donagh defence again and fired to the net.

Donagh were given a boost when Conan Fitzpatrick got on the end of a good team move that started with a short kick out to fire to the net.

However, Paul Ward and McGovern kept the scoreboard ticking over while Cameron McBrien hit a super score for Donagh.

Any chance of a Donagh comeback was more or less put to bed when Ronan Mchugh found the net after 25 minutes.

They did finish well with scores from Jimmy Tormey and Eoghan and Eimhin Curran to leave it 3-08 to 1-05.

The scores dried up a bit in the second half compared to the first, however, Derrygonnelly would hit 1-02 without reply during the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Off his left, Nathan Jones hit a fine score for Derrygonnelly and this was followed up with a Conor Burns point from distance.

Then Derrygonnelly’s fourth goal came along as Paul Ward lobbed the Donagh keeper to make it 4-10 to 1-05.

Four more points followed for Derrygonnelly courtesy of Ward, Aidan McKenna and Odhran Harbinson before Donagh managed to find the net for the second time from Eimhin Curran as it ended 4-14 to 2-08.