Belcoo succumbed to a second straight Club Players League defeat when they lost 2-8 to 0-12 to neighbours Devenish on Sunday morning at MacNean Park. The sides will meet next week at the Garrison venue for the opening round of the Senior Division 2 League.
The opening 20minutes of this contest seen the sides share 6 points. Devenish’s Fionnuala Maguire, Hannah Murphy and Ellen O’Flanagan all on target for the visitors while Sinead Barrett accounted for all three of Belcoo’s points from play.
The game took a turn in the visitors favour in a devastating 4minute spell from the 22nd to 26th minute. It began with Aisling Maguire rifling in a goal before Murphy, O’Flanagan and Maguire all kicked points in as many minutes. Belcoo’s sole reply was another Sinead Barrett point from play. The attacker kicking all four of her sides first half scores as they trailed 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval.
The opening ten minutes of the second period seen the sides once again trade scores, two each this time as Devenish continued to hold a five point advantage. Shauna Hamilton (free) and Ellen O’Flanagan the markswomen while Michelle Cullen and Sinead Barrett accounted for the home sides scores.
Belcoo would have their best spell of the contest at this juncture as they hit the next four points in a row, Aine Barrett (2), Sinead Barrett and Michelle Cullen. The game was delicately poised at 1-8 to 0-10 with 7minutes to play.
Devenish’s only score in the last 23minutes of the game would be a goal, it proved a telling one. A good move downfield cut open the Belcoo defence and Hannah Murphy fired to the net.
The visitors defence had stood firm all game and Belcoo never created a clear goal opportunity, they had to settle for points from Michelle Cullen and Sinead Barrett late on as they ended up two points adrift by the full-time whistle.
For the beaten O’Rahilly’s their were hard working displays from Kelly Connolly, Leona McNulty and Cara Gray with Sinead Barrett spearheading the attacking threat. The O’Rahilly’s must regroup ahead of next week’s first league fixture. Training is Tuesday at 6.45pm.
Team (15 a side): Riona Keaney, Crona Higgins, Siofra McAloon, Eimear Gray, Kelly Connolly, Leona McNulty, Seana Feeley, Cara Gray, Michelle Cullen (0-3), Eve Barrett, Sinead Barrett (0-7), Stacey McCabe, Scarlett O’Connor, Mikayla Maguire, Aine Barrett (0-2). Sub used Ciara McGuinness.
