Championship wins all that matter for Devlin and Naomh Muire at present

Naomh Muire captain Daniel Devlin admitted that his side's performance in their opening game against Na Rossa wasn’t their best, but getting the win was the all-important outcome when leaving Dooey on Saturday night.

A strong start, with Jack O’Donnell finding the net after ten seconds, set the tone for the game, and the Lower Rosses men never let their opponents get within three points of them, eventually coming away with a 1-19 to 0-13 win. 

“We had a good start to the game, but there are definitely things to improve on,” Devlin said after the game.

“We know all about how difficult they can be at home, and last year they got one over us in the first championship game, so we were expecting a tough game, but thankfully we came out as winners.

“A good start is important, and even if we just got a point away from home, we would have been happy enough with that.

“The championship is all about winning, but we are chasing the performance as well.”

Another win would set them up nicely to reach the quarter-finals, but they will welcome a Red Hugh’s side, also buoyed by an opening day win, to the Banks.

The Cross men took a 2-13 to 0-10 win over recently relegated Cloughaneely.

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County panelists Stephen McMenamin and Jonny Carlin were in from the start for Darren O’Leary’s side, Carlin ending the game with 0-4, while full-forward Calvin Bradley and James Doherty found the net, as Jack Gillespie also was on form with six points.

But Devlin, whose side were without Adam O’Brien and Harry Harden on Saturday, will be looking to take any form of win at home.

“We’ll get ready for Red Hugh’s from Tuesday, and we know that will be another tough game, the Intermediate championship is competitive and there are no easy games, they’ll be a dogged side, so if we can even get a one-point win we’d be delighted.

“We don’t want to look too far ahead of Red Hugh’s, we’ll have another big game against Cloughaneely away and then home to Glen (Naomh Columba), but it’s all about next week for us.”