Derrylin 2-16 Belcoo 3-11

Derrylin manager Sean Donnelly says that the sole focus for his side is simply getting the win on Sunday against Maguiresbridge to ensure their passage into the knockout stages of the competition.

Donnelly saw his side turn a seven point deficit into a two point win over Belcoo last Sunday thanks to an impressive second half display.

“It’s all about getting the win and getting through. Yes, you would love to qualify in second place and have a home quarter-final tie but at this point the target will just be to win the game and see where we are after that.”

The O'Connell's lost their opening game with a disappointing display against Devenish but they produced a very good second half display to see of Belcoo last weekend.

“We were very good in the second half. The first half Belcoo played well, and we were poor but I felt after half time that we opened up a bit and got going, and that was pleasing.”

Barry Hanrahan, Belcoo manager was hugely disappointed with the outcome of the game and his side's second half performance: "That result is a difficult one to swallow. We had total control of the game and somehow we forgot to come out of the changing rooms at half time. We don’t have time for post-mortems. The games are coming thick and fast this time of year. Our total focus is now on the Devenish game. We are a little wounded at the moment but we will be ready for the next game."

Belcoo opened scoring after five minutes when Lawrence McKeown won the ball out in front before playing a one-two with Gerard McHugh and firing over.

But it was not long after Derrylin found the net when James Dolan drove forward and played in Diarmuid Owens who beat Jamie Ray.

There was a while before the next score but it came via Danny Leonard to leave a goal between the sides before Cillian Murray responded for Belcoo.

A high ball in to the Derrylin square was palmed over by Ciarán Flaherty to leave on it and from the next kick out Flaherty turned over a short kick out and fed in Dara Flanagan who eventually found the net on the third attempt, 1-03 to 1-01.

Conor McAloon then swung over as Belcoo began to dominate.

Murray added his second after good build up play to put four in it with 20 played but Luke Flanagan responded with a point for Derrylin.

Eoin Shiels would then hit two fine scores off the outside of his boot to make it 1-07 to 1-02 after 24 minutes.

Josh Smith responded with a good score for Derrylin while Paul McGrath converted a free and Murray got his third point of the day to leave it 1-09 to 1-03 at the break.

Derrylin needed a response and they came out flying at the start of the second half, with a marked uplift in intensity.

They rattled off three points in quick succession through a Ferghal McGovern free, Danny Leonard and Owens to make it 1-06 to 1-09.

Belcoo were struggling but from the next kick out Murray won the ball and played it to McGrath who found McKeown and his shot rattled the crossbar before hitting the net to restore the six point lead.

And there should have been another Belcoo goal when McKeown was played in again but his shot went over the bar instead of under, 2-10 to 1-06.

Padraic Owens cut Belcoo's lead to six points in the next Derrylin attack with 15 minutes to play before Flanagan pointed off his left.

Flaherty hit a point fro Belcoo but this was matched by a Danny Leonard effort, 2-11 to 1-09.

The game swung in Derrylin's favour after this. Belcoo played about with a ball close to goal and what appeared to be a foul was waved on by referee James Carey and Josh Smith fired to the net to make it a two point game.

Four points on the trot from Conaill Boyle, Diarmuid Owens and Jake Smith (2) put Derrylin into a two point lead.

But Belcoo were back in front straight away.

A long kick out from Ray found Flaherty and he drove forward. An attempted shot dropped short and Flaherty had continued his run and fired to the net, 3-11 2-13.

But another three unanswered points from Diarmuid Owens, James Boyle and Danny Leonard to wrap up a 2-16 to 3-11 win.

Derrylin - D Owens 1-03; Josh Smith 1-01; D Leonard 0-04; L Flanagan 0-02; Jake Smith 0-02; C Boyle, J Boyle, P Owens all 0-01; F McGovern 0-01 1f

Belcoo - C Flaherty 1-02; L McMcKeown 1-02; D Flanagan 1-00; C Murray 0-03; E Shiels 0-02; C McAloon 0-01; P McGrath 0-01 1f