‘Big players stepped up’, says happy Ryder

Erne Gaels made it five wins from five games as they had too much for an understrength Derrygonnelly side last Wednesday evening.

A goal in either half for Seamy Ryder’s men was enough to send them to victory while inflicting a fourth defeat of the season on the current league champions.

‘Brilliant defence’

Speaking after the game, Ryder was pleased with the win but knew Derrygonnelly were not at full strength: “Happy enough getting the win. Obviously they were missing a few. But I thought we controlled the game well at times.

“Our defence was brilliant and our big players really stepped it up a level last night.”

With less than three minutes played, Greg McGloin’s shot looked like it was heading over the bar before dropping into the Harps net.

It was 1-01 to no score shortly after when Martin Gilfeddar sent Odhran Johnston on his way and he popped over a point.

Ryan Lyons was next on the scoreboard to end a series of wides while Derrygonnelly were finding it hard to break down a well drilled Belleek defence.

The next score came after Ultan Kelm’s strong run gave him the space to play the ball across to Shane Rooney who swivelled and fired over, 1-03 to no score after 15 minutes.

With 17 minutes played, a good turnover by Stephen McGullion gave Derrygonnelly the chance to break and Conor McGovern kicked a good score.

It was the start of a better period of play from the visitors and they had a second point when a poor pass out of defence by Ultan Kelm let Derrygonnelly play the ball to Stephen Gilroy and he pointed with his left.

And it was down to a single score game as Conor Burns hit the Harps’ third point and last point of the half as it ended 1-03 to 0-03.

Derrygonnelly started the second half brightly as they attacked from the throw-in and Garvan Jones fired over before another attack was converted by Leigh Jones out on the right, 1-03 to 0-05.

Some patient play gave Erne Gaels their first score since the 15th minute when Oisin Kelm found himself in space and he did not miss.

And immediately after Ryan Lyons pointed on the run from 30 yards and it was back to a goal between the teams.

Then Ultan Kelm drove in along the end line and he was able to find his way past a Derrygonnelly defender before firing over.

An interception from an Oisin Kelm pass let Derrygonnelly break and after a steady passage of play McGullion pointed from the right.

Winning the kick out, Garvan Jones rattled over another point to close the gap to two points, 1-06 to 0-07.

Garvan Jones converted a free to leave one in it as Derrygonnelly were enjoying a period of dominance with a quarter of the game remaining.

But from the next kick out, Ultan Kelm gathered a short pass and he made 50 yards before laying the ball off and it found its way to McGloin who got his second of the evening.

Lyons then pointed to return the three point advantage.

The Harps were almost level soon after when a long ball into the square was fetched by McGullion but his goalbound shot was saved and eventually cleared.

Shortly after a long Erne Gaels kick out was flicked on by Lyons and it set Erne Gaels away.

Michael Óg McGarrigle, Johnston and Tommy McCaffrey were all involved to get the ball to Shane Rooney to find the net, 2-08 to 0-08.

Another driving run from Ultan Kelm saw him bearing down on goal and he took the decision to fist over the bar as it became a seven point game.

Over the closing five minutes, Derrygonnelly would outscore Erne Gaels 0-04 to a single point.

Bryan McKenna, Mickey Jones, Ronan McGovern and Conor Burns all pointed but it was not to be enough as Erne Gaels wrapped up the scoring through Ultan Kelm as it ended 2-10 to 0-12.