After making the drop from Senior football last year, Kilkerley Emmets marked their return to the Intermediate Championship with a win over Glyde Rangers at Stabannon on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the six-point margin at the final whistle, this Group 1 game was in the balance up to the closing minutes when Tadhg McEneaney scored the only goal of the game.

It was Emmets who began brightly and with Sean Hand and Shane Lennon among the scorers they grabbed the first four points of the game. However, Trevor O'Brien and Ciaran Sheridan responded to help Glyde take a 0-6 to 0-4 lead at the break.

They increased that advantage to three points early in the second half but Kilkerley gradually got on top and sealed the win with McEneaney's late goal.

Hunterstown Rovers look set to make it through to the quarter-finals following their comfortable 3-14 to 1-7 win over Nh Malachi in Group 2.

The Mid Louth side were strongly fancied going into this game but they had to recover from an early hiccup before claiming the victory.

Rovers began with the first three points, but the Malachis battled back and led by 1-3 to 0-3. However, a Paul Carrie goal on 22 minutes settled his side and a second three-pointer from Keith Brennan sent his team in leading by 2-6 to 1-3.

The Mid Louth side then took control in the second half and were never in any danger of letting the game slip with Paul Carrie adding his second goal on 52 minutes.

Junior Champions, Oliver Plunketts, began their assault on the Intermediate competition with an impressive 3-9 to 0-10 win over St Brides at Stabannon on Saturday evening.

The match was evenly balanced for the opening half but a strong second period saw the Drogheda side take control on the scoreboard before emerging with a comfortable win.

It was nip-and-tuck in an opening period that saw the Brides finding their range and it took a goal from Conor Early to send the Plunketts in level at 1-5 to 0-8.

The Mell outfit then struck a second goal shortly after the restart through Emmet Kelleher and that was the signal for his side to take control of the game.

The Brides challenge faltered thereafter as they managed just two points before Frank Taaffe completed the win with a third goal for the Plunketts.

Na Piarsaigh provided the first shock of the Intermediate Championship when they recorded a two-point win over St Fechins in Stabannon on Saturday evening.

Having reached last year's final and given that they are currently playing Division 1 football, the Fechins entered this Group 4 game as strong favourites. However, the determination of the Dundalk side, combined with their eye for goal, combined to give them victory.

When the sides met last year, the game ended in a draw and this first half of Saturday's encounter was also closely contested. The crucial score came from the boot of David Boyle who hit the net from a 17th minute penalty to send Na Piarsaigh in with a 1-4 to 0-6 lead.

Aidan Marks added a second in the third quarter to give his side a good cushion. The Fechins battled back gamely but despite late pressure were unable to save the game.

Tweet

Most Read Stories