O’brien to the ‘four’ as Devenish rout the Gaels
Club Players’ Competition 1B
Devenish 9-07 Enniskillen 2-10
THEY say goals win games and that certainly proved to be the case when Devenish and Enniskillen Gaels met in the second game of Division 1B of the Club Players’s Competition last Friday night. The teams had contrasting fortunes in Round One, with Devenish impressing in their win over Derrylin while a depleted Enniskillen side were turned over by Ederney.
The Gaels are still nowhere near full strength and despite having the services of experienced players like Eoin Beacom, Richie O’callaghan and Paddy Reihill, they were outgunned by a Devenish side showing plenty of early season promise.
Manager, Marty O’brien, was pleased his side showed further improvement from their first game in particular in the goal stakes.
“We were pleased with it. We had missed a few goal chances last week and wanted to be more clinical against Enniskillen and in fairness we took our chances very well and probably got a bit lucky for a couple of goals as well,” reflected O’brien.
“First half we got two goals when [Eoin] Beacom was off with a black card and that really set us up well.
“I think we were a point behind when Eoin went off. Then in the second half when Enniskillen came out at us a bit more it left gaps in behind and the lads were sharp to it.
“So it’s very pleasing to rack up such a big score. We know it’s very early in the season and that Enniskillen were severely depleted but we still had to put in a performance and thankfully we did.”
The game was balanced for the opening 15 minutes with Gaels holding the slight advantage until Beacom received his black card.
For the Gaels in that first half, Lorcan love got the opening goal of the game and they had scores from James O’donnell, a Beacom free, Richie O’callaghan.
For Devenish, Joe O’brien hit two goals, one from the penalty spot, in the opening 30 minutes along with Jamie Flanagan and Terry O’flanagan, while O’flanagan, Flanagan and a Tom Treacy ‘45 meant the home side led 4-03 to 1-04 at the break.
With the Gaels chasing the game in the second half and looking for a way back in it opened up more and Devenish were able to plunder five more goals.
Jarlath O’brien hit the back of the net twice, as did Joe O’brien with Cian O’brien making it a remarkable nine goals.
They also had points from Barry
Mulrone and a long distance free from Treacy.
Cian O’brien rattled over a point from distance while O’flanagan fisted one over the bar.
For the Gaels the majority of their scores in the second half came from O’donnell frees while Conal Quinn did manage to find the back of the net but it was not enough as Devenish ran out 18-point winners.
Devenish have their first away game of the season when they face Kinawley while Gaels have a week off.