BELCOO .............................. 2-13
LISNASKEA .......................... 3-11
A very entertaining contest here with no shortage of scores at either end of the park. In the end it all came down to a sprightly finish from the visiting Emmets as they closed out the match with two goals scored in the final five minutes.
Belcoo had just about shaded matters in the opening half and they were to go in for the half time break leading by three points on a scoreline of eight to five. Their points had come mainly from Emmet Scallon, Declan Leonard and Paul McGrath with the Lisnaskea response supplied by Brian Og Maguire, Adrian Little and Mark McKenna.
Both sets of forward lines had been generally enterprising over the first period and this was to remain the case in the second half, this time goals starting to arrive on a regular basis.
Two of the five that were eventually registered came in the third quarter. Seamus Conlon was first off the mark, the home sides full forward firing home three minutes after the resumption. On the threequarter mark that score was to be cancelled out with Brendan Fitzpatrick driving home a penalty goal for 'Skea.
Points were regularly being knocked over at both ends of the pitch as the dominance of both sets of forward lines continued. Paddy McGinley and Declan Leonard had scores for Belcoo and Brian Óg Maguire responded for Lisnaskea.
Ten minutes from time Belcoo notched their second goal of the evening, the alert Conlon again on the mark and that looked to have clinched the result for the home team.
But they were to be overhauled by a committed late Emmett's rally. Kevin Curran rapped in a second goal for Lisnaskea and that gave his side the impetus to press hard for the winner.
They duly claimed the victory with their third goal, this coming very close to the finish, Brian Óg Maguire who had been a major figure all through for them getting on the end of a lobbed ball to fist home.
For Lisnaskea, Kevin Curran was always working hard and Gary Little was also to show up well for them. For Belcoo, Ryan McGovern was the pick of the rearguard with Paddy McGinley also contributing to the cause with some forceful play.
Referee John McGurn Erne Gaels.
