DERRY GAA: Glack shock for Doire Trasna as O'Connors win at Corrody Road

Doire Trasna 1-10, Glack 0-17

Any lingering hopes Doire Trasna had of at least complicating Ballerin's coronation as the new H&A Mechanical Division Three champions was ended almost before it began by an inspired Glack display at Corrody Road on Sunday.

Ballerin required only only a point from their trip to Sean Dolan's to be mathematically certain of taking the title but with that game throwing in a couple of hours after this match, Trasna had at least the chance to ensure the Sarsfields would have to keep a check over their shoulders. That they didn't was all down to Glack.

With Adrian Magilligan and Aaron O'Connor back at the helm, the frustratingly inconsistent O'Connors had one of their good days and on this form, they can be a match for any team at the Junior grade.

Ciaran O'Brien did an excellent job on Trasna dangerman Eoghan Quigg, holding him scoreless until the 40th minute and while Quigg did finish with 1-04, only two points came from play, though Quigg's late penalty did almost threaten an unlikely comeback.

Elsewhere Ryan Morgan and Adam O'Kane were top class while teenager Shea Smyth was excellent until forced off by injury early in the second. And as far as returns to form go, one week before the start of the Junior championship is pretty decent timing.

That championship is the focus for Trasna too now. This result may have officially ended their league hopes but it was the tempestuous defeat at Drum in Round 7 that did the real damage for Collie Mac Eoin's men who were well below heir best.

Missing the leadership of Caolan Doyle and Tomas McCrossan, as well as the likes of Conall Guille, Shea Healy, Matthew James and John McKivergan, Trasna never found anything like top gear with the biggest worry over recent a failure to convert chances.

The Pearses hit only 0-5 in that damaging league defeat at Drum and by the time the clock was showing 51 minutes in this one, they had only registered 0-7, tallies that are not going to win many championship matches.

The positive is the Waterside men are not lacking in attacking talent - indeed not lacking in any area - so the focus now will be only getting their missing men back and rediscovering their 'shooting boots' in time for their championship opener against Ardmore on Friday, August 28th.

Glack's don't have as long to wait with their Group B opener at home to Dolan's scheduled for this coming Sunday but if you're going into a championship, this is the type of performance you want to go in with.

With most spectators expecting a comfortable Trasna win, Glack flipped the script from throw-in and raced into a 0-7 to no score lead which should have been considerably more.

Cormac O'Boyle got things underway with a first minute point which was added to by a sublime two pointer from the boot of Ben McGonigle. Padraig Moran added the fourth before Smyth won the kick-out and sent the evergreen Jimmy O'Connor flying through the middle. O'Connor's fierce shot deserved the net but found only the inside of the post only for the rebound to land at the feet of O'Boyle whose shot was then brilliantly saved at point blank range by Trasna keeper Flynn Doherty.

It was a fortunate escape for Trasna but Glack barely slowed, Adan O'Kane and Ryan Morgan (2) adding further points for that seven point lead. Indeed it wasn't until the 22nd minute that Trasna finally split the posts through Caelan O'Connell and already they looked to have their work cut out for them.

By the time the half-time whistle sounded Glack had extended their advantage to 0-10 to 0-03 thanks to further scores from O'Boyle, after another fine Doherty save, Smyth and O'Kane.

The second half saw a mild Trasna improvement but it wasn't until those final 10 minutes when the hope offered by Quigg's late penalty finally saw a real intensity finally arrive. Prior to that Glack were in cruise control. Second half points from Aaron Moore, Ryan Morgan and Padraig Morgan took Glack's lead out to 10 points before Quigg opened his account with Trasna's first of the second half.

It sparked a mini Trasna revival but the home side were still trailing 0-7 to 0-15 when Caelan O'Connell's lovey two pointer arrived on 53 minutes. It was followed by a Quigg free and within seconds the same player was intercepting a pass in front of the Glack goal and being brought down for a penalty he smashed home to bring the game back to 1-10 to 0-15.

It would be as close as Pearses got as Glack finished with points from Adam O'Kane and, fittingly, O'Brien for a fully deserved win.

Doire Trasna scorers: Eoghan Quigg 1-4 (1pen, 2f), Conor O'Donnell 0-2 (1tpf), Caelan O'Connell 0-1, Oran Donnelly 0-1, Dylan Deery 0-1, Tom Casey 0-1,

Glack scorers: Ben McGonigle 0-3 (1tp), Ryan Morgan 0-3 (1f), Adam O'Kane 0-3, Padraig Morgan 0-2, Cormac Boyle 0-2, Shea Smyth 0-1, Aaron Moore 0-1, Eoin Mackey 0-1, Ciaran O'Brien 0-1.

Doire Trasna: Flynn Doherty, Niall Gallagher, David Og Officer, Darragh Deehan, Cathan Duffy, Conor O'Donnell, Caelan O'Connell, Cormac Kelly, Oran Donnelly, Ryan Lindsay, Tom Casey, Dylan Deery, Somhairle McFadden, Colm Conneely.

(Subs) Tiarnan Fleming for C Kelly (inj), 23mins; Michael Kelly for D Deery, 43mins; Eoghan Devlin for C Conneely, 43mins;

Glack: Eoghan McLaughlin, Ciaran Carmichael, Ciaran O'Brien, Shea Smyth, Thomas O'Kane, Ryan O'Kane, Ryan Morgan, Padraig Morgan, Aaron Moore, Eoin Mackey, Ben McGonigle, Adam O'Kane, James O'Connor, Cormac Boyle, Odhran O'Kane.

(Subs) Matthew Doherty for S Smyth (inj), 39mins; Shea Diamond for C Carmichael, 51mins;

Referee: Damien Harkin