IRVINESTOWN ........................ 3-10

AUGHDRUMSEE ....................... 0-8

Irvinestown after just two games have already staked out their position as one of the prime contenders for promotion. They opened their campaign with a nervous enough success over neighbours St Josephs but in this clash with visiting Aughdrumsee there was to be no question about the command of a team who have a return to the top flight firmly in sight even at this early juncture.

Aughdrumsee did have the snappier start and they popped over a couple of early points but once Irvinestown had settled down to the task there was no real doubt about the end result. A quick Irvinestown goal cancelled out the initial Aughdrumsee thrust and by the time the interval was reached the gap between the teams had stretched to seven points.

Aughdrumsee had by now lost a lot of their early promise and when a third Irvinestown goal was landed just a few minutes into the second half, the game as a contest was effectively over.

Not a great deal of scoring thereafter and Aughdrumsee were to ease back into the picture somewhat but there was no suggestion that they would be capable of making any significant dent into the deficit and the final winning margin of eleven points was in no way flattering for the convincing Irvinestown team.

For them Tiarnan Daly was a sturdy defender and Ronan Ormsby was a bright forward. Foundation of the win was to be laid in the middle of the park where the combination of Emmet Doonan and Mark McNulty generally held sway and this ensured a steady supply of possession spun into the fleetfooted attack.

The early points forAughdrumsee came from Ryan Boyle and Sean McManus but then Irvinestown moved up a gear and they moved convincingly in front. Opening goal for them came on five minutes, Manus O'Kane on the end of a lob hoisted in and he fisted to the net. Ronan Ormsby fired home goal two at the end of the first quarter, he was finishing off a good approach.

Points for the leaders were added on by the goalscorers and Gary Maguire with Aughdrumsee restricted to just two further points.

Five minutes into the second half Irvinestown carved out their third goal, this time a long ball from outfield was not attacked by the Aughdrumsee back line and Eamon McCarney nipped to flick home.

The losing side were to pick off isolated points, Eugene Kearins among those on the mark for them, but they were always far adrift. For them Malachy Boyle laboured hard in defence, Sean McManus also featured for them around the middle of the park and Darren Durnien had some neat touches up front.

Referee Paul Campbell, Tempo.