BROOKEBORO .......................... 0-9

BELCOO ................................... 1-9

Second win on the trot for league champions Belcoo so they have got the defence of their title off to a sound start. They however had to depend on a late penalty goal to get them over the line against home side Brookeboro though perhaps they will point to the fact that they really made matters precarious for themselves by not making more adequate use of the chances that they created over the sixty minutes.

Brookeboro worked hard at various stages of the game, overcoming a less than impressive start to haul themselves into the lead at the interval. But they were unable to sustain the level of effort required to fend off the visitors and in the final passage of play it was Belcoo who shaped up as the more convincing team.

Once again there was to be a busy and bustling contribution for Belcoo from the Leonard twins operating at wing half back and wing half forward. Ciaran Leonard also delivered another solid display while further back in their lineout, Seamus Conlon in the middle of the park and Emmet Scallon in defence both stood out.

For Brookeboro, Thomas McElroy was a tenacious figure, Paul Campbell at corner back and Ciaran Boyle in the half back line were to feature with John Mellarkey having his moments in the centrefield.

But Brookeboro have now lost both of their opening matches and like neighbours Tempo they seem to be heading for the all too familiar path of struggling to avoid an immediate return to the second division.

Belcoo made the early running and they were to move in front with first quarter scores coming from Ciaran Leonard and John Carrigan, though it had been Brookeboro, with a score from Ciaran Moane who had opened the scoring.

But Brookeboro had then been put on the back foot and it was not until the second quarter was well on its way that they managed to edge themselves back into the game. This they did to good effect however with a four point return, the old reliables, Kieran Donnelly and Niall Rooney on target and they led by a point at the break.

The third quarter was to be well balanced, the teams trading a number of scores, John Carrigan, Ciaran Leonard on the mark for Belcoo, Kieran Donnelly and Niall Rooney answering for Brookeboro. Ten minutes from time Brookeboro were to be reduced to fourteen players and it was Belcoo who finished the stronger side, the Carrigan penalty goal decisive in shaping the final result.