St Kevins defeated Oliver Plunketts by 3-16 to 3-7 at Dunleer on Sunday to clinch runners-up spot in Group 1 of the Intermediate football championship and earn a meeting with O'Connells in the quarter-final.

The Philipstown men turned in a fine display and were well on their way to victory thanks to three first half goals. However, the Plunketts struck back with three goals in as many second half minutes but couldn't sustain that effort as Kit Henry's team held out for a deserved win.

The game was only a minute old when Cian Callan got in for the first goal of the game to help his side take a 1-4 to 0-4 lead on 12 minutes.

It was at that stage that the Kevins put their foot on the pedal and goals from Karl Martin and a Lee Crosbie penalty had them leading by a very comfortable 3-8 to 0-5 at half time. That advantage was out to 13 points soon after the break but between the 39^th and 42^nd minutes the Plunketts hit the net through Luke Haggins (penalty), Kevin Keogh and David McTaggart.

The gap was just four points at that stage but the Kevins regained their composure and added five further points to secure the victory.

Clan na Gael encountered little difficulty as they defeated local rivals Na Piarsaigh on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-7 at Dowdallshill on Saturday evening. As a result the Dundalk men will face Hunterstown Rovers in the last eight.

After losing out to the Brides in their opening Group 2 game, the Clans were rarely troubled on this occasion and victory was all but secured in the opening period.

With Mark McGeown, Mark Newell and Paul Gore all on target, the Clans kicked the first five points before Ciaran Murphy scored the only point of the half for Na Piarsaigh. By the interval the Castletown men had extended the gap to 0-9 to 0-1.

The Clans remained on top throughout the second half and sealed the win with goals from McGeown and JJ Quigley. Michael Woods, Mark Larkin, Gerard Smyth and Alan McCartney kicked second half points for Na Piarsaigh.

Nh Fionnbarra earned a meeting with St Brides in the quarter-final after a 0-13 to 0-10 win over Young Irelands saw them clinch runners-up spot in Group 3.

The game at Dunleer on a sunny afternoon was a very closely contested affair but it was the Barrs who edged home thanks to a strong finish and the scoring power of William Woods.

Woods opened the scoring from a free before Bernard Osborne and Hugh Osborne added points, but the Irelanders were on terms after 13 minutes thanks to efforts from Jordan O'Donoghue and Dermot Mone (2).

There was little between the teams for the remainder of the half but two points from Cian O Naraigh saw the Dundalk men lead by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Dean Maguire's early point stretched the lead to three but the Barrs began to get on top and cut the gap through two efforts from Woods. The Young Irelands thought they had a penalty when Maguire was pulled back only for a free to be awarded against him.

The Ballygassan side levelled from the resultant attack and as they Young Irelands tired, Woods added three more along with a Padraig Butterly effort to secure the win.

St Mochtas will take on Mattock Rangers in the quarter-final after they came out on top against St Fechins by 2-9 to 1-9 at Stabannon on Saturday evening.

The Louth Village side were deserving winners of this Group 4 clash and as a result joined table toppers, Hunterstown Rovers, in the latter stages.

Stephen McCooey and Declan Byrne combined to cause most of the damage for their side with the former bagging two goals, while the latter helped himself to seven points.

The first goal came after 23 minutes and it proved to be crucial in putting the Mochtas in control ont he score board as they went in at the break leading by 1-5 to 0-2. Joe Corrigan kicked both points for a Fechins side that failed to find any real rhythm.

The opening four points of the second half were shared but then things fell apart for the Fechins as they had Bevan Duffy and Paul King sent off, while Eoghan Duffy received a black card, all in the space of three minutes.

The Mochtas took full advantage and when McCooey cut in to score his second goal, the lead was out to 2-8 to 0-4 after 37 minutes.

The Termonfeckin side did battle to the end and cut the gap back to six points before sub Ronan Holcroft fired in a goal from a 13m free with just seconds remaining. However, it was too late to save the game and the Fechins now face into the relegation play-offs.

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