Denn produced the goods late on this evening to edge past Shannon Gaels on a 2-16 to 2-15 score-line and into the semi-finals of the junior football championship.

In what was a thrilling clash in Butlersbridge, Mark Fegan's late, late free made all the difference for Mickey Lee's team as they just about held off a brave effort from their Blacklion counterparts.

Ben Conaty's goal nine minutes in helped Denn to lead by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break and the second-half turned out to be enthralling stuff as Shannon Gaels stormed out of the traps to move into the lead after just six minutes of the restart.

A superb Denn move saw Conaty bagging his second major on 44 minutes but the Gaels squared matters up again and on the hour the scoreboard at Emmet Park read 2-15 apiece before Fegan's late intervention from beyond 45 metres.

In Stradone, Mountnugent continued their fine form in the race for the Sean Leddy Cup with a 0-12 to 0-9 victory over Drumalee to bring the curtain down on last year's beaten finalists' season.

The victors' led by the odd point in 15 at the halfway stage, with Liam Hennessy kicking a few fine scores for them during the opening period, before the Cavan town side brought things level in the 42nd minute.

Mountnugent upped it a gear again however, as points from Hennessy (2) and Ciaran Caffrey (free) saw them returning to the last four stage of this competition.

Drumlane put their name in the hat for the draw after grinding out a win over a stubborn Templeport side at First Ulsters Park, Ballyconnell.

The favourites had raced 0-7 to 0-1 ahead inside the opening 15 minutes prior to Eoin Doonan hitting their net with a fortuitous goal which very much stemmed the tide in this all-western clash.

That strike reinvigorated the Bawnboy men and only Gary Tubman's free at the other end separated the sides at half-time (0-8 to 1-4).

Scores from county senior Donal Monahan, Donal O'Reilly and Tubman (free) helped the Sons of O'Connell steady their ship however and despite Templeport conjuring a pair of points from Liam Galligan, the Milltown side were able to put a seal on victory with a late brace from Dara Dolan.

The late throw-in in Mullagh saw competition favourites Killinkere come through a nervy battle against Munterconnacht which finished 2-13 to 2-8 in the end.

The winners looked in control at half-time (0-9 to 1-1) but the Munchies, whom stunned Drumalee late on the last day, outscored leaders by 1-2 to 0-1 in the third quarter which had the potential to leave things on a knife edge.

Killinkere soon found their goal-scoring touch though and hit their first on 46 minutes before substitute Ciaran Cusack raised another green flag to book their spot in the last four against Denn.

Semi-final draw:

Denn v Killinkere
Drumlane v Mountnugent

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