TEEMORE ................................................ 0-7

BELCOO ................................................... 0-8

League champions Belcoo produced a limp enough performance in this away tie with Teemore and they came close to dropping a point, needing an injury time score from Sean McNulty to scramble their way to a victory.

Teemore will be disappointed that they didn't get something from this contest for they had made a very positive start to proceedings, dominating the opening quarter and duly firing themselves five points clear as the visitors were slow to settle.

But Teemore were then to lose a lot of their initial poise and they were to fail to add to their tally until the final quarter was well underway. By that stage, Belcoo had gathered themselves together and had hit seven points in a row to push themselves in front.

However it had not been an especially convincing Belcoo effort and there was to be no real surprise that they were to be reeled back in by a home side who at last emerged from their slumber. In a game which saw only a moderate standard of play turned in by both lineouts, a draw would perhaps have been a fair enough result but there was to be a winner, McNulty from play tossing over the late, decisive score.

Barry Owens who had of course been the fairy tale goal scorer in the provincial semi final, continued his return to full time play by starting and finishing the full sixty minutes plus. He played at wing half back.

For Teemore the mainspring of the attack, at least in sporadic moments, was Declan Fitzpatrick while Paul Donohue was the most consistent figure in the defence. As for Belcoo, Ryan Leonard at corner back was the most effective defender, Seamus Conlon tried hard in the full forward role and Niall McGovern was to have some good passages in the middle of the park.

Teemore made a whirlwind start that for a short period at least looked like it would see them sweep a subdued Belcoo aside. The Shamrocks eased their way in for a five points tally, three of these scores coming from the alert Declan Fitzpatrick with Ciaran Brady and Declan Reilly also on the mark.

Belcoo were out of sorts but they gradually managed to bring some cohesion into their play, finally stalling the Teemore surge with a 17th minute score from Niall McGovern and Ciaran Leonard was to add a second before the interval.

Belcoo were to play their best football of the hour during the third quarter when they raided for a five points tally, Niall McGovern, Paul McGrath, Ciaran Leonard, McGrath and Leonard again all slotting points.

Teemore who had disappeared for over half an hour eventually edged back with equalising scores from Ciaran Brady and Rory Maguire the latter's point coming three minutes from time. A draw beckoned but McNulty was to squeeze out a scarcely deserved Belcoo victory.

Referee Paul Campbell Tempo