BROOKEBORO .......................................1-13

DERRYGONNELLY .................................6-13

A stunning six goal spree for Derrygonnelly saw the Harps career to a runaway victory over home team Brookeboro. For the defeated side it was a morale sapping setback as they shipped a three goal tally in each half to leave themselves well off the pace from an early juncture.

Derrygonnelly were on the goal trail with their first score, Paul Ward setting up an early breakthrough for Jonathan McGurn and the tone had been set for the rest of the hour. Not that Brookeboro were to be without their own successes up front, their final tally of a goal and thirteen points would have been more than adequate to have secured a win in most games.

But conceding so many goals left them far in arrears, ten points the gap separating the sides at the interval and with Derrygonnelly popping in two more in the early spell of the second half, the game lost all of its competitive edge.

The quick McGurn goal was to be followed up by the first of a two goal personal strike from Paul Ward and Kevin Cassidy added the third Harps goal near to the interval. In answer, Brookeboro had been on target with points from Niall Rooney, Kieran Donnelly and Thomas McElroy but by the interval their cause was a lost one.

No chance really of damage limitation for them on the resumption as the Derrygonnelly fusillade of goals continued, Kevin Cassidy and Jonathan McGurn shooting number four and five.

There was to be temporary respite for outgunned Brookeboro when they succeeded in finding the net themselves. Their goal was a fine individual effort from Kieran Donnelly who made a forceful charge through the heart of the Derrygonnelly defence before thumping a rising shot into the roof of the net.

They were also to have second half points tossed over by the dependable Rooney from placed kicks and a score from Ciaran Boyle but Derrygonnelly were to round off their goal salvo with a sixth strike, Paul Ward finishing off a good move.

With so many scores from both sides it was clearly a sixty minutes which saw both sets of defences have their difficulties and the leading lights of the game were in the forward lines.

Paul Ward had a brisk hour for Derrygonnelly with Jonathan McGurn and Kevin Cassidy also much to the fore. For Brookeboro, Niall Rooney was always a threat and support came from Kieran Donnelly and Thomas McElroy.

But there were to be some individual defenders who managed to stand up the demands made on them. Brookeboro wing half back Ciaran Moane was one such and for Derrygonnelly, Eamon McHugh was also a consistent presence.

Overall though this was a very sharp team display from Derrygonnelly, one of their best displays of the year so far, the unfortunate thing for them is that there will not be another league game for several weeks.

The impetus of this huge win could well be forgotten by that stage. Meanwhile for Brookeboro, the lengthy gap will give them time to rebuild their self belief.

Referee Seamus McMahon St Patricks.