Beragh defeat champions Lisbellaw in Fermanagh and Western opener

Champions Lisbellaw started the defence of their league title with a shock home defeat to Beragh Swifts on Saturday. Three goals in a ten minute spell early in the second half helped seal all three points for Swifts, but for Lisbellaw it was the worst possible start to the new season.
“We were second best all over the pitch,” admitted frustrated Lisbellaw manager Andy Reilly.
“I’ve absolutely no complaints. They were hungrier and fully deserved the victory. I’d never criticise my players but it’s certainly a big wake up call for them. They will have to accept as champions everyone will be looking to beat you.”
A disappointed Reilly is expecting a strong response.
“It’s disappointing but there will be a lot of points dropped this year by the challengers and I’m fully expecting a positive reaction in the next few weeks,”he concluded.
Swifts manager Keith Hamilton was impressed with the efforts of his team and believed his side deserved the points.
“We would have taken a draw at the beginning of the game so we are delighted,” he said.
“They are a tough team and they will be there or thereabouts but we played well and hopefully it wasn’t a fluke! We are not getting carried away with it but it was a good start for us and they couldn’t really argue with the result. We weren’t exactly hanging on at the end but having said that I’m glad the game didn’t go for another ten minutes!
“It was a good confidence booster and it is one of our tougher matches out of the way. We have a tough one again this week against Strathroy and then we have Enniskillen Town the following Saturday.
“Somebody up there was testing us, but so far so good,” the delighted Beragh boss concluded.
Swifts carved out the first chance of the game but Stephen Browne saw his shot saved by McFrederick in the Lisbellaw goal.
With eleven minutes gone the reigning champions opened their account for the season when Ryan O’Keefe received the ball down the right channel and weaved through a few tackles before firing into the corner.
Beragh battled back well and were level when David Clements won possession and fired a ball across the box for Stephen Browne to finish, and the away side felt aggrieved soon afterwards when their penalty claims for a foul on Michael Browne were waved away by the referee.
Lisbellaw were posing a threat as well and O’Keefe had two glorious chances but shot tamely at the keeper when well placed, and Tiarnan Magee then had another chance when his lob from 45 yards went agonisingly wide.
Ten minutes into the second half the game swung decisively in Beragh’s favour as they scored three quick fire goals. Colin Adams gave them the lead when he scored with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, and Adams scored his second minutes later from similar range.
Swifts’ fourth goal arrived courtesy of David Clements who ran on to Jamie McKeown’s pass and fired in from twelve yards.
Lisbellaw were given a lifeline when Swifts had Clements sent off for two bookable offences and the influential Michael Browne limped off, but although O’Keefe and Keenan found the net with late goals, Beragh defended well in the closing minutes and left with a deserved three points and get their season off to the perfect start.