Cuchulainns 1-13 Belturbet 1-08
A seven point haul from Eugene Keating helped Cuchulainns get the better of Beturbet last Saturday in Mullagh.
In a tough, hard-hitting contest which was well-handled by Jimmy Galligan (Lacken), a third quarter surge from the hosts proved vital. Cuchulainns had led by 1-4 to 0-4 at the break after points from Keating (two), Shane Smith and Conor Smith. The latter also buried a well-taken goal in the bottom corner and was fouled for a penalty, which Belturbet goalkeeper David Greene saved from Keating.
Cuchulainns had been wasteful in the opening half and the Rorys looked like they could punish them when Brendan Fitzpatrick who was closely marked by the excellent John Flanagan latched on to a longball and sent a good low finish past Mark Clarke five minutes into the second half.
Keating had opened the second half scoring but that goal for "bud" cut the gap to two points. However, Cuchulainns responded well with Gavin Daly winning the ball at mid-field and firing over a good point and a Keating free and another Daly point put some daylight between the teams.
Belturbet replied through Cian Vaughan and Mark Teevan, who both played well, but late points for Adrian Taite and a couple more for Keating put the result beyond doubt.
A feature of the match was the battle between county men Damien Reilly and Keating, with the Cuchulainns man arguably shading a good old-fashioned tussle. Eoin McGuigan and Johnny Klushe also had their hands full at midfield against the Taite brothers in what was also a good tussle.
Cuchulainns: Mark Clarke, John Flanagan, Christopher Tully, Peter Fox, Patrick Murtagh, Gary Daly, Rory O' Connell, Paul Taite, Adrian Taite (0-1) Eugene Keating (0-7), Martin Lynch, Gavin Daly (0-2), Seamus Clarke (0-1), Conor Smith (1-1), Shane Smith (0-1).
Belturbet: David Greene, Peter Shannon, Garrett McDonald, Stuart Murphy, Killian O' Reilly, Damien O' Reilly, Donald Magee, Eoin McGuigan, Johnny Klushe, Cormac Rudden, Kevin McConnell, Cian Vaughan, Conall McGinley, Mark Teevan, Brendan Fitzpatrick. Subs: Darrell Dolan for Peter Shannon
