This year's ACFL Division Two final will see Knockbride and Drumlane do battle for the third time after both sides registered hard-earned victories at the weekend.

On Saturday, an injury-time goal from Brendan Carolan saw Knockbride stun table-toppers Ballyhaise in Cootehill, where the Canningstown men emerged 2-13 to 1-14 winners.

In a thoroughly entertaining clash, a Larry Reilly penalty saw the winners put their noses in front by 1-6 to 0-7 on the eve of half-time.

In the second-half, the promoted side struck two quick points from Barry McRudden and Kevin Tierney to level. Scores went back and forth, which saw the teams level on numerous occasion until Knockbride pulled two points clear after Larry Reilly and Carolan split the posts.

With three minutes to go, Ballyhaise looked in trouble before a well-fielded kick-out released Don Gorby through for goal and the corner-forward buried the ball past Ronan Keaskin for what looked a winning three points.

However, tensions soared as the game delved deep into added time and in the fourth minute Carolan came up trumps when the chance presented itself for Knockbride.

On Sunday evening, Drumlane held off a spirited comeback from Drumgoon at First Ulsters Park to record a 2-8 to 0-10 victory.

The game, which helped mark Kildallan's 125-year celebrations as the oldest club in the province, was very much of two halves and one where goals made all the difference for Drumlane in seeing off their intermediate championship rivals.

Having dominated for large portions of the first-half, Ollie Fay's charges took in the 2-5 to 0-3 half-time lead after goals from the excellent Paul Kelly and centre-forward Fergal Brady, with the latter finishing off a brilliant move started by Glen Fitzpatrick into the top-corner of Niall McIntyre's net.

Minus the services of Keith Fannin and Michael Hannon, Drumgoon struggled to match their opponents for appetite, but they did up their game in the second-half to outscore them by 0-7 to 0-3.

Two of Drumlane's scores after the restart were utter gems from Barry Cunningham and 17-year-old substitute Gary Tubman, which were enough to usher the Sons of O'Connell through to a first league decider in over a decade. Tweet

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