Fitzpatrick goal helps Rories hold off Redhills

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni Park A 16th minute goal from the impressive Brendan 'Bud' Fitzpatrick proved the key score as Belturbet held on to defeat a strong-finishing Redhills at Breffni Park last Sunday afternoon. The Rories had Jason O'Reilly to thank for a large part of their victory. The veteran forward was well-marshalled by 19-year-old Ciaran Smith in the opening half but came up with crucial scores when his side needed them after the break, registering 0-5 in all including the vital "insurance point" two minutes from the end. Redhills, unbeaten in championship football since 2007, turned in a disjointed performance overall, with only Paddy Gumley truly standing out. The problem for the border side was that, with regular centre-forward Colin Reilly out injured, Gumley was forced to come deep too often to gain possession, leaving Redhills without a real threat around the full-forward line, despite the best efforts of Mark Kelly. After a tense opening period, Jason opened the scoring with a neat point on the turn six minutes in and a Brendan Fitzpatrick free made it 0-2 to 0-0 moments later. A free from Packie Leddy and a lovely point from Kelly levelled matters but with Belturbet on top at midfield - mainly through good work from Eoin McGuigan - and Redhills unusually sloppy in possession, the Rories quickly turned the screw. Clever build up play by Eoin McGuigan and Jason O'Reilly saw the former release Fitzpatrick, who fired a rocket to the net from point blank range to put three between the teams. Belturbet, playing with the wind, registered two more points, an O'Reilly free and a fine Garret Fitzpatrick point from play, in the next three minutes to move five clear as the rain began to pour. Redhills, strangely lacking inspiration, struggled to put together the sort of free-flowing, attacking moves they showed in last season's IFC campaign and in the championship opener against Drumbride, but they hung in gamely and frees from Gumley and Leddy (two) brought them within two at half-time. Redhills started the second half with a renewd vigour but struggled to break down a resilient Belturbet, who defended well and always seemed capabale of picking off a score to maintain a slender lead. A superb Gumley point from the left-wing was cancelled out by an equally-impressive score at the other end by Jason O'Reilly and another by the roving Gareth Fitzpatrick, who played the role well over the hour. A classy point by O'Reilly, who was by now causing serious problems, made it 1-7 to 0-6, and although Redhills responded with a Gumley free, a well-worked score by Niall Reilly kept Belturbet's lead intact. To their credit, Redhills continued to battle and a right-footed Gumley point, after goosd work by sub Turlough Mooney, cut the gap to a goal. Belturbet hit back though Garret Fitzpatrick and a Brendan Fitzpatrick free to move 1-10 to 0-8 clear and while Redhills turned in a storming finish, with Pearse West and Alan Brady in particular working hard, they found it tough to register the scores they needed. Gumley and Jason traded points, but in truth Redhills needed a goal. at this stage. A point from sub Alan Dunne and a nice score by Mark Kelly, followed by another from Mooney, dragged Redhills, who showed impressive fitness levels, back to within two but Belturbet showed their experience and rounded the match out with a punched point from Jason O'Reilly. BELTURBET: Aaron Donohoe, Stuart Murphy, Damien O'Reilly, Garret McDonald, JJ Murphy, Johnny Higgins, Mark Teevan, Ollie Donohoe, Eoin McGuigan, Conor Vaughan, Brendan Fitzpatrick (1-2, 2f), Johnny Klushe, Garrett Fitzpatrick (0-3), Jason O'Reilly (0-5, 1f), Niall O'Reilly (0-1) REDHILLS: Fintan Reilly, Ciaran Smith, James Smith, Alan Brady, Fergal McDermott, Adrian Fitzpatrick, Oisin Minagh, Pearse West, Rory Dunne, Martin Walsh, Kieran West, Joe Callan, Packie Leddy (0-3f), Paddy Gumley (0-5, 2f), Mark Kelly (0-2) SUBS: Turlough Mooney (0-1), Alan Dunne (0-1)