ACFL Division 2 League

Belturbet 1-8

Laragh Utd 0-10

Enda Henry's superb long range free in the second half injury time secured a one point win for Belturbet when they faced Laragh United in the 3G Pitch, Kingspan Breffni on Sunday last. Enda Henry gave the Rorys an early lead with a free in the opening embers of the match. Belturbet were dealt a huge blow when they lost inspirational midfielder Damien O'Reilly to a red card in the sixth minute but Padraig Dolan's team showed tremendous resolve to turn in a quality display.

Jack McKenna levelled the match up for Laragh with a point from play and then added a point from a free to move the Stradone men into the lead. Paul Smith then finished off a flowing Laragh move with a point in the 14 minute to leave Laragh with a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Cormac Donohoe's fine work set up Eoin McGuigan in the 16th minute and the full forward dispatched his shot over the black spot to leave the minimum between the sides.

Laragh's Lee Reilly again restored his side's two point lead when he fired over a point in the 20th minute. Enda Henry cut Belturbet's arrears to 0-4 to 0-3 with 21 minutes gone when he fired overanother free for the West Cavan Men.

Belturbet despite being a man down were playing some cracking football and they engineered a well worked goal with 24 minutes gone. Eoin McGuigan and Cormac Donohoe linked up and Enda Henry who turned in an inspired display finished low and hard to the back of Fergal O'Rourke's net to move Belturbet 1-3 to 0-4 ahead. Belturbet were tigerish in their tacking with their defensive unit forcing Laragh into shooting from bad positions. Mark Teevan gave a fabulous display of fielding in the middle of the park and the Rorys won a lot of breaking ball which allowed them to launch rapid fire attacks.

Belturbet having carried a 1-3 to 0-4 lead into the half time break extended their lead to three points in the 33rd minute when John Cahill laid a neat pass off to Niall O'Reilly who curled over the bar. Paddy Rudden responded for Laragh with a free in the 35th minute before Eoin McGuigan added his second point of the match approaching the 37th minute to leave Belturbet 1-5 to 0-5 ahead.

The game continued to be played a high intensity and Laragh again responded with Colm McKenna thrashing over a point from play in the 39th minute. Belturbet continued to keep their noses in front and Conor Vaughan made an immediate impact upon his introduction as a substitute gathering possession before swivelling and shooting over in one movement with 43 minutes gone.

Paddy Rudden added a brace of points for Laragh in the 46th and 49th minute courtesy of two successful frees as Laragh now trailed by just one point.

Conal McGinley scored a sensational point from out on the left hand wing from an impossible angle to nudge Belturbet two points ahead with seven minutes left. Laragh continued to drive forward and Paddy Rudden made it a one point game with another free in the 65th minute. Seamus Cooney hammered over the equalising point for Laragh in the 68th minute to set up a tense finish. Enda Henry came up trumps for the Rorys landing a long range placed kick in stoppage time to eke out their second one point win from their opening two league games.

Belturbet: Cian Vaughan, Mark Lawlor, Kevin McConnell, Peter Shannon, Stuart Dunne, Niall O'Reilly (0-1), John Cahill, Damien O'Reilly, Mark Teevan, Enda Henry (1-3 3f), Cormac Donohoe, Conal McGinley (0-1), Sean Og Lawlor, Eoin McGuigan (0-2), Fionan O'Reilly. Subs: Conor Vaughan (0-1), James McCaffrey, Killian Murray, Luke Smith, Cormac Donohoe.

Laragh United: Fergal O'Rourke, Stephen Cooney, Eoin Donohoe, Jason Rahill, Ian Leddy, Seamus Cooney (0-1), Paul Smith (0-1), Fergal McKenna, Jack McKenna (0-2 1f), Lee Reilly (0-1), Jason Walsh, SeanTierney, Liam McKenna, Paddy Rudden (0-4 4f), Pauric Reilly. Subs: Colm McKenna (0-1), Eoghan Cooney.

Referee: Conor Dourneen.

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