Belturbet 2-10
Cuchulainns 2-8
Belturbet inflicted Cuchulainns first defeat of the ACFL Division 2 league campaign when a strong last quarter surge saw them overcame the men from Mullagh by two points in Rory O'Moore Park on Monday evening last.
The home side opened the scoring in the first half, when Kevin McConnell, Eoin McGuigan, Damien O'Reilly and Niall O'Reilly all combined to pick out John Cahill in space. The wing back, who would go on to have an excellent match, lashed over a long range point with three minutes on the clock. Cuchulainns quickly responded with Brian Magee converting a fifth minute free to level proceedings.
Cahill, Enda Henry and Niall Lawlor produced excellent interplay to set up Conal McGinley on the left hand wing and he stroked over a fine point with the outside of the boot to edge the Rorys 0-2 to 0-1 in front with 10 minutes gone.
Conor Smith, instantly responded for the Cuckoos blazing a shot over the bar with the outside of the boot, to deadlock the sides for the second time. Evan Doughty, moved the visitors into the lead for the first time in the 17th minute, via another free. Cahill was raiding up the left hand wing at every opportunity and he laid off an assist for Mark Teevan who swung over another excellent point with the outside of the boot to tie the match at 0-3 each after 19 minutes. The hosts had a productive five minute spell where they added three points to their tally. Enda Henry converted a 20th minute free and excellent approach play from Brendan Fitzpatrick teed up McGinley who popped over another long range point with 22 minutes gone. Brendan Fitzpatrick then slotted over a point which came from good link up play from Henry and Niall Lawlor to leave the Rorys with a 0-6 to 0-3 lead with 25 minutes gone.
Cuchulainns hit Belturbet with a real sucker punch in the 27th minute, when they punctured a hole in the Belturbet defence with Evan Doughty finishing a one on one past Shane O'Gara, to leave it 1-3 to 0-6. Adam O'Reilly showed great strength to push off his marker and clip over a well taken point from an acute angle to send the Mullagh side into the half time intermission with a 1-4 to 0-6 lead.
Cuchulainns were the dominant side for the first ten minutes of the second half getting control of the match in the vital sectors. The midfield pairing of Brian Magee and Conor Flanagan were winning a lot of ball around the middle and their half back line were also picking up a lot of loose ball. Doughty extended his side's lead in the 32nd minute when Killian Lynch and Brian Magee linked up to splendid effect to work him into a shooting position which he duly obliged in converting.
Conor Smith smartly worked himself into space before drilling over a point from the right hand side of the pitch to give the Cuckoos a three point lead with 35 minutes on the stopwatch. Donnacha Dunne raced up the field from corner back to rifle over a point for the away side to move them into a 1-7 to 0-6 advantage with 38 minutes played.
Belturbet turned a four point deficit into a six point lead with a devastating 14 minute spell where they knocked in 2-4 without reply. Their defence began to get on top with Shane Fitzpatrick, Mark Lawlor and Peter Shannon all providing excellent contributions in the full back line in sweeping up any danger. Henry slung over another free in the 42nd minute to make it a three point game and they created a half goal chance in the 46th minute which resulted in a point. Brendan Fitzpatrick superbly fielded a diagonal ball, before racing towards goal before unselfishly laying the ball off to Jason O'Reilly, who fisted the ball over the bar. Belturbet hit the front in the 50th minute with a move which began in their defence with tenacious defending from Shane Fitzpatrick seeing the ball moved at speed up the wing to Brendan Fitzpatrick. The full forward played the ball up the line to Jason O'Reilly, who laid his pass off to the juggernaut Eoin McGuigan, who was arriving at break neck speed. The midfielder saw his goalbound shot from close range blocked but Donal McDonald was on hand to bundle the ball to the back of the net. The home side were totally dominant at this stage with Damien O'Reilly and McGuigan beginning to lord the midfield sector and build attacks at will. Brendan Fitzpatrick was proving to be a key cog in his side's second half display with fantastic ball winning ability on display throughout. He laid on another assist for Jason O'Reilly who got the ball on the right hand wing, threw a dummy, used his physical power to brush aside the challenge off his man before driving over a tremendous long range point in the 52nd minute.
Belturbet had at this stage built up huge momentum and Enda Henry added another free in the 55th minute to leave the home side with a 1-10 to 1-7 lead approaching the home stretch.
The hosts split the Cuchulainns defence wide open in the 56th minute, with Brendan Fitzpatrick and Niall Lawlor linking up in the final third, to free Enda Henry who buried his shot low into the net to move his side six points clear.
Brian Magee converted a 59th minute free for the away side before they pulled a consolation goal back in the 60th minute when a high ball in fell invitingly to Conor Flanagan who blasted to the net from close range. Belturbet saw out the remainder of injury time to secure their fourth win on the bounce and move level on points with Lavey, Cuchulainns and Killeshandra at the summit of the league table.
Belturbet: Shane O'Gara, Shane Fitzpatrick, Mark Lawlor, Peter Shannon, John Cahill(0-1), Kevin McConnell, Conal McGinley(0-2), Damien O'Reilly(C), Eoin McGuigan, Enda Henry(1-3 3f), Niall O'Reilly, Donal McDonald(1-0), Mark Teevan(0-1), Brendan Fitzpatrick(0-1), Niall Lawlor. Subs: Jason O'Reilly(0-2), Sean Og Lawlor, Brian Wallace.
Cuchulainns: Chris Magee, Donnacha Dunne(0-1), Adrian Taite, John Flanagan, Killian Lynch, Christopher Tully, Gavin Daly, Conor Flanagan(1-0), Brian Magee(0-2 2f), Seamus Clarke, Evan Doughty(1-2 1f), Andrew Mooney, David Carolan, Conor Smith(0-2), Adam O'Reilly(0-1).
Subs: Gary Daly, Diarmuid Foxe.
Referee: MG Brady.
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