Tempo 0-16

St Patricks 2-7

After their championship exit Tempo have bounced back with this merited three points home success over visiting St Patricks.

The winners were the sharper side all round and their final sixteen points tally underlined the general authority which they had enjoyed over the hour but on the other hand at no stage were they in a really comfortable position.

This was down to the fact that they conceded a goal in each, those major scores keeping St Patricks snapping on the Tempo heels and right to the finish the Donagh side were not without hope of salvaging at least a point from the tie.

The first of the St Patricks goals, their first score of the day in fact, came after some eight minutes and with a point immediately added on they went two points clear. But that was to be the only occasion that the visitors were to hold the lead.

By the time that the interval was reached they had slipped into a four point deficit and all through the second half they never really looked convincing enough to suggest that they could claw their way back.

For St Patricks Eamon Maguire was their outstanding figure and he was to be the hub of most of their attacking play with support coming from Pat Cadden and Gary Maguire.

For Tempo centre back Damian Kelly had a very solid contribution with Aiden Breen and Rory Foy giving steady support in the rearguard, generally curbing the threat posed by Maguire and company.

Two quick points for Tempo both from Daryl Keenan opened the scoring but the home side was then momentarily stunned by a sharp St Patricks response.

A fast counter raid spliced open the home defence and Eamon Maguire on the end of a neat final pass had no trouble in beating keeper Stephen Jackson.

Maguire promptly added a point but Tempo shrugged off this and hit back with some positive play for the remainder of the half.

A tally of eight points tagged on by the Maguires who were taking a majority share of the attacking play, Niall McElroy, Damian Kelly , Declan McCarron and Daryl Keenan all landing scores.

St Patricks nicked two in reply, Pat Cadden and Gary Maguire the marksmen but they had been under the cosh to some degree. On the resumption Tempo were to equally trade a four points tally before Tempo edged out six in front with further scores from Aiden Breen and Daryl Keenan.

But any thoughts they may have entertained about coasting home were knocked on the head when St Patricks carved out a second goal. Good work from Brian McDermott on the left wing and a neat pass inside to Pat Cadden saw Tempo concede their second goal of the afternoon.

Just a point now separating the sides but St Patricks couldn’t advance further and Tempo secured the win with the game’s two closing points from Damian Kelly and Aiden Breen.

Referee; Dermot Love; Enniskillen.