Belmullet 1-10  Davitts 1-7

Belmullet made it two wins from two in Div 1A of the senior league after beating Davitts in Tallagh on Saturday evening. The greasy ball and windy conditions meant that good football was at a premium in a very stop-start game.

The home side made the better start and their impressive midfielder Anthony Barrett gave them the lead with a second minute point. Davitts responded well with a Jack Melvin two-pointer in the 5^th minute, a classy point from wing-back Tommy Waldron a minute later and another Melvin two-pointer in the 7^th minute. In the 9^th minute, Belmullet got a timely boost when an Anthony Barrett effort for a point dropped short and full-forward Diarmuid O Donoghue was quickest to react and he finished it to the Davitts net. A David Cosgrove point for Belmullet, from a hotly-disputed 3 and 3 decision in the 11^th minute, levelled the game. Ciaran Treacy restored Davitts lead with a 16^th minute point and a minute later Jack Melvin scored a Davitts goal, finishing in soccer style after a clever dummy from Jack Devane, following the home team’s goalie Shane Nallen getting stranded up-field. Davitts kicked some bad wides in the second quarter and Belmullet scored the last two points of the half through Rian Concannon and Anthony Barret in the 22^nd and 29^th minutes, to leave Davitts ahead by 1-6 to 1-4 at the break.

Davitts struggled to make any impact up front in the third quarter and Belmullet points from Shane Nallen, Conan Connor and David Cosgrove in the 33^rd, 35^th and 40^th minutes, saw them take the lead. A black card for Davitts’ sub Stephen Nyland in the 47^th minute didn’t help their cause but another Davitts sub, Ronan Kelly, levelled the match in the 51^st minute. The commitment shown by both sides was admirable in the worsening conditions but Belmullet centre-back, Padraig Cowman, put his side two ahead with a brilliant long-range effort in the 53^rd minute. Davitts threw everything they had at the home side in the closing minutes and a long Mark Birmingham delivery was superbly fetched by Jack Melvin but his shot for goal got blocked down. The referee failed to award the advanced mark and Belmullet cleared their lines. Another floated ball by Mark Birmingham was again caught by Jack Melvin and Shane Nallen saved his goal attempt but again the advanced mark was also turned down. Belmullet finished off the game in the 60^th minute with a breakaway move that ended with an Eamon McAndrew point to give his side a hard-earned win.

Shane Nallen, Conan Connor, Rian Concannon, Anthony Barrett, Seamus O Donnell, David Cosgrove and Diarmuid O Donoghue were impressive for Belmullet while Brian Birmingham, Charlie Phillips, Thomas Ronayne, Tommy Waldron, Jack Melvin, Mark Birmingham, Andy Peters and Ciaran Treacy battled hard for Davitts.

Belmullet: Shane Nallen (0-1), Shea O Donoghue, Conan Connor (0-1), Padraig Meeneghan, Rian Concannon, Padraig Cowman (0-2), Thomas Tighe, Seamus O Donnell, Anthony Barrett (0-2), David Cosgrove (0-2), Eamon McAndrew (0-1), James Ivers, Peter McArthur, Diarmuid O Donoghue (1-0), Luke O Reilly. Sub used: Darren McDonnell.

Davitts: Joe Prendergast, Patrick Keadin, Charlie Phillips, Brian Birmingham, Tommy Waldron (0-1), Thomas Ronayne, Brian Og McTigue, Mark Birmingham, Jack Melvin (1-4), Cathal Corless, Shane Treacy, Andy Peters, Ciaran Treacy (0-1), Darragh McGale, Jack Devane. Subs used: Stephen Nyland, Ronan Kelly (0-1), Sean Keadin, Tom Corless.

Referee: Declan O Boyle (Ardagh).