Murphy & Moran lead O'Heslins to comfortable win

County finalists last year, Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins shouldn't be regarded as dark horses for the championship and certainly their comfortable victory over a young Glencar Manorhamilton in Saturday's Masonite ACL Division 1 clash suggests they'll be in the mix for the Fenagh Cup.

The north Leitrim men had more at stake going into the game in Ballinamore's Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin as they battle to avoid relegation but despite a first half quarter surge, they were unable to match the power, experience and depth of a Ballinamore side who lined out without County duo Tom Prior and Paul Honeyman.

Add those two to a team that registered 2-15 and you get a sense that Ballinamore could easily prove a handful for the presumptive favourites for this year's championship and Ballinamore certainly look to have the strength in depth with the return of Donal Feely adding to their options.

For Glencar Manor, they are facing a relegation battle against a St Mary's team that need at least a point to advance to the League Final. They still have a few of the old reliables but there is enough evidence that their young players have the talent to make an impact in the years ahead, particularly as they are still without the giant sized impact of Barry McNulty.

Ballinamore were quick off the mark, Michael McKiernan pointing after just 15 seconds but Glencar Manorhamilton were equally rapid as Bailey McBride scored a fine point inside a minute. O'Heslins were making the early running but had three wides or short shots before a good Wayne McKeon pass set up Pal Moran for a fine point.

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Manor had their own wides before Evan Sweeney played a great one-two with Gavin O'Hagan to point after eight minutes. Ballinamore were creating more chances but weren't taking them and Glencar Manor went in front after a good Cathal Og O'Connell pass set up by O'Hagan.

Michael McKiernan hit a great effort from the corner to equalise but then Jack Kelly propelled Manor into a four point lead with two kicks, the first a two point free before a brilliant effort from play outside the 50 yard line.

Ballinamore were finding to hard to settle but a Luke Murphy free did just that and they were level on 21 minutes, Shane Moran taking a 'solo and go' free, bursting through a tackle before firing a great show to the bottom right hand corner of the Glencar Manor net.

Tom Hughes was carded for dragging down Shane Moran, McKeon converting the free while Stephen Irwin was also booked. Shane Moran went close to a second goal only for Shaun Sheridan to save his effort after the Ballinamore man handpassed the ball over the head of a Manor defender. The half ended all square after Sweeney hit a good point to leave Ballinamore 1-5 to Manor's 0-8 at the break.

Whatever was said at halftime in the Ballinamore dressing room had an effect as they reeled off four unanswered point - two Luke Murphy frees and one lovely effort on the run while Paul Moran scored from a tight angle.

Evan Sweeney cut the gap in half with a two point free after 12 minutes but Shane Moran virtually soloed around the edge of the Manor defence to point. The gap was back to two when Jack Kelly converted a free after a foul on Sweeney was moved in for dissent with 12 minutes left.

However, Luke Murphy killed off the game is the space of a minute when he struck a brilliant two pointer and then followed up with a goal after Ballinamore turned over the kickout, leaving his team seven points clear.

The goal seemed to knock the air from Manor as they managed just a solitary Kelly free before the final whistle while a dominant O'Heslins saw points fly over from a McKeon free, sub Brian Leyden and Keelan McHugh to complete a comfortable victory for the hosts.

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Michael McKiernan looked powerful, Keelan McHugh was a bundle of energy and we had flashes from Wayne McKeon & Paul Moran. Shane Moran remains their tempo setter while Luke Murphy was superb in his finishing. 

For Glencar Manor, Evan Sweeney was superb leading the line while James Rooney did likewise in defence. Bailey McBride and Jack Kelly are the promise of a bright future but they found Ballinamore's close attention hard to escape on Saturday - they'll learn and adapt and we'll see a very different team.

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS

Scorers: Luke Murphy 1-6, 3f; Shane Moran 1-1; Michael McKiernan, Paul Moran & Wayne McKeon (2f) 0-2 each; Brian Leyden & Keelan McHugh 0-1 each 

Team: Darren Maxwell, Matthew Murphy, Brian Banks, Cian McGovern, Naoise McManus, Liam Ferguson, Michael McBrien, Shane Moran, Donal Feely, Conor Moran, Michael McKiernan, Keelan McHugh, Luke Murphy, Paul Moran, Wayne McKeon. Subs: Brian Leyden for M Murphy (51); Shane Murphy for McManus (58)

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Jack Kelly 0-6, tp, 4f; Evan Sweeney 0-4, 2f; Bailey McBride & Cathal Og O'Connell 0-1 each

Team: Shaun Sheridan, James Hughes, Tom Hughes, Joe McEvoy, Gavin O'Hagan, James Rooney, Brendan Byrne, Bailey McBride, Ruairi Sheridan, Cathal Og O'Connell, Evan Sweeney, Dylan McDermott, Cathal Curneen, Stephen Irwin, Jack Kelly. Subs: Brian McDonald for Byrne (44)

Referee: Paul Martin