Maghery 0-9 Ballymacnab 2-9
Ballymacnab picked up a six-point win over Maghery, away from home, in the opening round of the Senior Championship.
In a repeat of last years quarter final, which went to extra time, the result was reversed as the Nab gained revenge.
A goal four minutes into the game from Oisin McGivern put the Nab ahead, and they stayed there for the rest of the game.
That goal helped keep the hosts at arm’s length, but Maghery battled back to narrow the gap to one by the break.
Stefan Forker (free) exchanged efforts with Ryan Watters before Kevin Robinson (free) closed the margin to two.
Ryan Kennedy split the posts for the visitors but Maghery claimed scores from Oisin Cushnahan and Padraig O’Keefe.
That made the half time score Maghery 0-4 Ballymacnab 1-2. The Nab were reduced to 14 men just before the break, with Paul Meegan seeing red.
But Ballymacnab raised their game after the turnaround and rattled off the first four points of the second period.
Gavin McParland fired over a free, as did Rory Grugan, while McParland and Watters added further scores.
Stefan Forker nailed two frees to keep Maghery in contention, before Kieran Hughes scored from an acute angle.
A second goal for Ballymacnab, this time through Watters, made six the difference in the final ten minutes.
Maghery to their credit kept battling away, but couldn’t get the goal that would bring them back into the game.
Hughes grabbed his second of the afternoon, with another huge score, to extend Ballymacnab’s lead to seven.
Stefan Cusack and Robinson both split the posts, but Rory Grugan popped over the insurance score to secure a six point win for the Nab.
Ballymacnab meet Dromintee next weekend, while Maghery will once again have home advantage against Killeavy.
