ENNISKILLEN ......................... 2-10

BELCOO .................................. 2-11

League champions Belcoo have embarked on the defence of their title in effervescent fashion and perhaps are laying down a marker for the championship later in the summer.

Here against Enniskillen they were notching their fourth successive victory which leaves them in fine position after the initial run of fixtures.

For Enniskillen on the other hand it is beginning to take on the old, familiar story of league anonymity. This was their third reversal from four and it would have to be said it is a somewhat surprising situation for them for much had been expected from them this season in the league.

They did however come close to denting the Belcoo record in a lively contest, just a point adrift at the end of an entertaining tussle that had a lot to offer and perhaps will feel that they deserved some return from the game.

A goal for each team in the opening half, Gavin Leonard finishing off a neat and incisive Belcoo movement to fire home with a crisp shot. For Enniskillen the goal was a bit of so so effort, a shot from Matthew Keenan apparently going in off a Belcoo defender.

They all count though and it was enough to give the Gaels a slight edge at the interval. Points for the Gaels had come mainly from Ronan McCabe who was once again their most consistent attacker with Ciaran Flaherty and Ciaran Leonard among those responding for Belcoo.

Nip and tuck during the third quarter in a sprightly contest that was to ebb and flow. Belcoo then pushed hard for the win when they grabbed their second goal some ten minutes from full time, Paul McGrath ramming home the score and his side were now reasonably well clear.

But it was not going to be an easy run in for them. Enniskillen still had plenty to offer with Ryan McCluskey prompting them onwards and their persistence was rewarded with a Conor Kelly goal that made for a tense finish. The Gaels however just couldn't bridge the deficit despite the strong work being put in by Tom Brewster and Kevin Gunn especially.

For Belcoo as well as the bonus of making it four wins on the trot there was the further boost of having Stephen Maguire make his first appearance of the year.

Things looking very bright for the O'Rahilly's at the moment. Not so for the Gaels though they were not that far away on this occasion.

Referee Enda McBrien Derrylin.