Garrymore 2-10   Davitts 0-7

An early scoring blitz, when they scored a goal and four points in the first nine minutes,  gave Garrymore the perfect platform to go on to win rather comfortably against a battling Davitts team in the opening round of the Senior Championship in Garrymore on Saturday evening. A tricky wind and the greasy underfoot conditions made it difficult to play good football but the physically stronger home side adapted better in front of the large attendance.

Darren Quinn opened the scoring with a point in the first minute. Cathal Slattery kicked two great points in the 3^rd and 5^th minutes before Mark Gibbons finished off a sweeping move to goal in the 7^th minute. David Dolan, who had a powerful game for the homeside, pointed in the 9^th minute. Garrymore kicked some bad wides in the next eight minutes before Davitts midfielder Ronan McNamara fired over his side’s first score in the 17^th minute. Davitts chances had been dealt a severe blow when their inspirational captain Colm Boyle had to leave the action after picking up a leg injury. Davitts had points in the 24^th and 26^th minutes from Niall Treacy and Evan Ronane but a David Dolan point just before the break left the home side ahead by 1-5 to 0-3 at halftime.

Patrick Hession opened the second half scoring with a 33^rd minute point which was matched by the impressive Niall Treacy three minutes later. Cathal Slattery kicked a great point for Garrymore in the 43^rd minute but Niall Treacy points in the  44^th and 46^th minutes narrowed the deficit to four points. Darren Quinn pointed for the homeside in the 51^st minute and Micheal Connolly goaled for them in the 54^th minute after another excellent move. Darren Quinn and Jimmy Killeen pointed for Garry with Niall Treacy firing over for Davitts who could not breach an impressive home defence for the goal they badly required. A second yellow card for Ronan McNamara left Davitts down to fourteen men for the last few minutes before referee John Glavey blew the full time whistle.

Garrymore had top performers in Colin Commins, Caolan Crowe, Patrick Hession, Ciaran McGrath, David Dolan, Cathal Slattery and Aaron Hughes.

Davitts best were Charlie Phillips, Dmitry Trench, Ronan McNamara, Johnno Clarke, Shane Treacy and Niall Treacy.

Davitts will host Castlebar Mitchels in the next round on Sunday while Garrymore are away to Charlestown.

Garrymore: Brian Lynskey, Colin Commins, Caolan Crowe, Patrick Hession (0-1), Micheal Connolly (1-0), Ciaran McGrath, Shane Nally, David Dolan (0-2), Kenneth Lydon, Cathal Slattery (0-3), Brendan Walsh, Darren Quinn (0-3), Mark Gibbons (1-0), Aaron Hughes, Trevor Nally. Subs used: Jimmy Killeen (0-1), Ronan Quinn.

Davitts: Keith Prendergast, Jordan Flanagan, Charlie Phillips, Tomas Ronayne, Dmitry Trench, Cathal Higgins, Aidan Macken, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Fenton Kelly, Johnno Clarke, Evan Ronane (0-1),Shane Treacy, Niall Treacy (0-5), Darragh McGale, Colm Boyle. Subs used: Fionnan Gallagher, Cathal Corless, Liam Kearns, Danny Corless, Kieran Fahy.