Laragh United 0-20
Swanlinbar 1-10

Laragh United produced another solid display in the intermediate championship this evening to account for Swanlinbar and move into the competition's semi-finals.

Sean Finnegan's team were full value for their victory at Kingspan Breffni Park, outscoring Swad by 0-10 to 0-3 in the second-half with inside men Paddy Rudden (0-8) and Oisin Carolan very much to fore for them after Conor Walsh's goal had ambushed them just before half-time.

Laragh regained their foothold early on in the second-half though and kicked on for what was a both a deserved victory and semi-final berth, where they'll fancy their chances whatever opposition they draw.

It took all of 19 seconds for the winners to open their account in this one, with Ruairi Power being put through by Jason Walsh and blasting over from close range.

Points from Christopher Curran (free) and Damien Leydon struck long range efforts to move Swad into the ascendancy for the first time, but that was about as good as it got for the west siders over the next 25 minutes.

Two points (one a free) in the space of a minute from Rudden had the Stradone side back in front and they'd rattle off three more without response from Ian Leddy, Sean Tierney and Power to take control of this quarter-final contest.

A sorely needed point from Gearoid McKiernan arrived on cue for Swad to help stem the tide but they'd suffer a huge blow when speedy centre-back Curran was forced off with injury in the 17th minute.

Leddy popped over two more into the town end to usher Laragh five in front, as their opponents looked to be dwindling after being fortunate to deny Carolan three points with a goal line clearance.

Had that went in it could well have been curtains for the St Mary's men but instead they struck two more into the breeze via brothers Breifne and Gearoid McKiernan to stay right in contention.

Walsh earned a free for Tierney to tap over 25 metres out and the former should have had a goal a on 29 minutes but sent his shot over Gerry Scollan's crossbar instead of under.

It was another let off for Swad and they knew how to take advantage, with a trademark score along the left from county man McKiernan being backed up by Walsh's goal after the corner-forward was quickest to react to Leydon's point effort which was measured to short.

Coming in the added minutes, that goal arrived as a real sucker punch to Laragh and the evergreen Robbie Prior would make sure all their good work for the first-half was undone when he sent over a gem on the stroke of half-time, leaving all square at 0-10 to 1-7.

Rudden (free) restored Laragh's lead three minutes into the resumption and they were back in their rhythm once Carolan was threaded through in time and space to raise the umpire's white flag.

Swad couldn't come up with a response and it saw the men donned in orange assume control again, with Rudden and Tierney both sending over to bump the margin up to four.

Not much was working for the trailers and they had to rely on their talisman McKiernan for a bit of magic again, swerving over a 50-metre free with the outside of his boot for his side's first of the half.

Breifne McKiernan made it a two-point game right on the final quarter mark but over the ensuing eight minutes Rudden came up with a hat-trick of points (2 from frees) which practically shut the door on Declan Maguire's charges.

It was well and truly 'game, set and match' once Swad sub John Cunningham had a goal chance brilliantly blocked down by Fergal McKenna, allowing Laragh to counter and string together another slick forward move which had Carolan screwing over in space.

Carolan put sub Eoghan Cooney through for the winners' 19th point right on the hour and the deadly accurate Rudden made it 20 with the last kick of the game, ushering Laragh comfortable through to the draw for the last four.

Meanwhile in this evening's play-off clash in Ballyconnell, Redhills defeated Templeport by 1-16 to 1-12 to advance towards a quarter-final date with Shercock next weekend.

Laragh United: Fergal O'Rourke; Colm McKenna, Fergal McKenna, Jason Rahill; Ciaran Cooney, Seamus Cooney, Ian Leddy (0-3); Eoin Donoghue, Shane O'Rourke; Jason Walsh, Ruairi Power (0-2), Sean Tierney (0-4, 2f); Oisin Carolan (0-2), Paddy Rudden (0-8, 5f), Conor O'Rourke. Subs: Declan Brady for E Donoghue (42mins), Eoghan Cooney for C O'Rourke (47), Declan King for C Cooney (60).

Swanlinbar: Gerry Scollan; Conor Gilheaney, Neil McGovern, John Joe McGovern; Damien Leydon (0-1), Christopher Curran (0-1, 1f), Paul O'Brien; Greg McGovern (0-1), Gearoid McKiernan (0-4, 2f); Thomas O'Brien, Breifne McKiernan (0-2), Joey O'Brien; Conor Walsh (1-0), Robbie Prior, Rory McBarron. Subs: Padraig Leydon for C Curran (17mins, inj), Cathal O'Sullivan for P Leydon (HT), John Cunningham for R McBarron (49), Anthony McGoldrick for C Gilheaney (57).

Ref: Padraig Sheridan (Ballymachugh)

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