Derrylaughan stave off the drop

Donaghmore 0-07

DERRYLAUGHAN secured their place in ACL Division One next season with a comfortable victory at home to Donaghmore on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon.

The Kevin Barrys dominated the tie throughout and never surrendered the lead. From the opening minutes they established an 11-point lead before Donaghmore registered their first score which didn’t come to the 38th minute.

Derrylaughan showed no signs of nerves as they made the better start. They got on the scoresheet after five minutes with the brilliant Tomas Carney passing to Ciaran Quinn who kicked a nice mid-range point, despite missing a good goal chance after 11 minutes when Ciaran Quinn kicked wide.

By the first half water break Derrylaughan were in the lead by four points, as Stephen McGrath kicked a nice score after good defensive work by Martin McStravog. Tomas Carney scored a 13-yard free and a lovely point from play.

Derrylaughan continued their dominant display in the second quarter as defensively they overpowered the Donaghmore attack, with Colm O’Hagan, Conor McCabe and Conor Kennedy all playing well in defence for the Kevin Barrys.

Colm O’Hagan made a superb run from the full back position and was eventually fouled. Tomas Carney converted to help Derrylaughan lead by five.

A misplaced kickout almost lead to a goal for Derrylaughan but Fergal McAliskey just missed, Donaghmore’s goalkeeper was out of his net.

Derrylaughan would go on to lead by eight at the half with Fergal McAliskey scoring from play and a mark after a great ball from Ciaran Quinn who was influential throughout. A good score from Stephen McGrath who kicked his sides eighth and his second point of the game after more good work from Colm O’Hagan.

In a first half dominated by Derrylaughan it was Donaghmore’s goalkeeper Conall Molloy who ensured the deficit was not more with great fielding under pressure from numerous high balls.

Derrylaughan got off to the perfect start in the second half as within the first 60 seconds they had the ball in the back of Donaghmore’s net, a good turnover from Tomas Carney who kicked the ball to Fergal McAliskey who fed Ciaran Gervin who ran through the Donaghmore defence and found the bottom corner of the net to help Derrylaughan establish a 11-point lead.

Donaghmore would finally score their first point from a mark from Dermot McAleer after a good ball from Fergal Donaghy. Moments later Tomas Carney would kick the best score of the game. He made a fantastic catch in the middle of the field and got up and ran 30m to kick a fine long-range point. Derrylaughan got their next scores from the boot of Fergal McAliskey, his third of the day.

Donaghmore would respond with Deshaun Quinn kicking a long range free after substitute Peter McKenna was fouled. Ciaran Gervin would then score his first of the day and Tomas Carney would kick a 45 to help the Kevin Barry side lead 1-12-0-02 at the second half water break.

In the final quarter Donaghmore would go on to score five points with Derrylaughan scoring two with Deshaun Quinn and Tiarnan Drayne both playing well in the final quarter for Donaghmore.

Deshaun Quinn kicked two points from play and another from a free. Tiarnan Drayne would kick a brilliant 45m point with the outside of his boot from play. Daniel Toner kicked a mid-range point after good work from Deshaun Quinn. Despite Donaghmore enjoying a better final quarter it was Derrylaughan who ran out comfortable winners as substitute Cathal Canavan scored the final point of the game with an acute effort to ensure safety with a 10-point victory.