Belnaleck 0-07 Derrylin 2-10

Derrylin sealed a six-point derby win over Belnaleck last Friday in the fifth-place play-off game of Division One.

The win sees Sean Donnelly’s side pick up one point going into league action this season as they look to retain their status in the top division.

“It was a tight oul game, you know. Belnaleck were short a lot of players, we were short players too but it’s hard to make out where both teams are at this stage,” said Derrylin boss Donnelly.

Belnaleck manager Daniel Kille said after the game: “We were so disappointed with our overall performance and obviously the end result, the game was well in the balance in the second half, and we tried hard but just couldn't find that score to draw level on numerous occasions and it was Derrylin who were a lot more efficient in front of the posts and deserved the win in the end.”

Jake Smith kicked the first score of the game as he put the O’Conell’s in front with a mark early on before a free kick from Garvan Quigley tied the game for the home side.

Ruaidhri McGoldrick splits the posts with a point from play to regain the advantage and it would be a lead the visitors would not relinquish for the rest of the contest.

Two more points from Smith gave Derrylin a 0-04 to 0-01 lead at halftime in a low-scoring first-half.

Belnaleck started brightly and cut the difference down to a point in the early stages with points via Bryan Owens and Glenn Treacy.

Smith and Luke Flanagan added at the other end before quick replies through Owens and James Speight.

Three unanswered scores from the away side put them in control of the contest as Marc Lynam pointed in between efforts from Diarmuid Owens.

Bryan Owens hit his side’s final two points of the game as Derrylin ended strong as Joe Lunney put them 0-10 to 0-07 ahead with Kian Prior then sealing the win with a goal late on as Cathair Leonard burst down the right-hand side and found Prior with a first pass to finish to the net.

It means Derrylin will go into the league with a point in their quest to stay up as both teams will hope to bring in players to bolster their squads for the upcoming campaign.