Lavey 2-8
Castlerahan 2-8

A goal from Darren Jordan in the 52nd minute helped Lavey earn their second draw in six days as they finished all square with Castlerahan in Friday night's senior championship clash at Kingspan Breffni.

Kevin McDonnell's side hit 1-2 in a crucial 10-minute spell to save a share of the spoils in this one, as their opponents failed to score in the closing 20 minutes having built up a four-point lead after trailing at the break.

Oisin O'Connell's goal after 10 minutes looked to have Castlerahan relatively comfortable early on and although they'd lose their lead to Chris Conroy's leveller in the 24th minute, they'd kick on again via points from Cian McEnroe and Cian Mackey (2) before enduring disaster just before the break.

Oliver Smith's goal in the second minute of injury-time had Lavey up by one at the half but whatever Donal Keogan said to his players in the dressing room at half-time worked as they shot 1-4 inside the first 10 minutes of the restart.

The problem was they wouldn't score again and it suited their neighbours to nick a point off them here - and it could have easily been both towards the end.

Lavey, who had Ray Cullivan back at centre-field from their drawn encounter with Cootehill, notched the first score on board through Darren Jordan's lofted effort 40 metres central to the posts.

The Ballyjamesduff men responded in the best possible fashion though, feeding Ronan Flanagan inside and the former Cavan captain sent through Mackey, who offloaded to Oisin O'Connell and the speedy corner-forward did the rest.

Mackey assisted McEnroe for Castlerahan's first point on 13 minutes, as their opponents raised their wides' tally to six at the other end, but the town side were spared the concession of what would have surely been a goal when Enda O'Connell intercepted Joey Jordan's pass towards an unmarked Karl Duke lurking on the edge of the square.

Lavey looked like they were beginning to get going after Duke and Senan Gilcreest strung together back-to-back points, and they'd level matters once the former got himself impeded in a perfect position for Conroy to dart over his free from the ground.

Oisin O'Connell afforded McEnroe all the time and space to give the men in maroon back the lead and they looked like holding on to it for the interval after two points from Mackey (one a free) outweighed Darren Jordan's at the other posts.

Last year's beaten finalists were caught napping two minutes into the added on time though, which allowed Cullivan to pave a path through and the ball eventually worked into Oliver Smith, who fired low beyond Jamie Leahy for all three points, leaving at 1-5 to 1-4 in the New Inns men's favour for the break.

The trailers couldn't have asked for a better start to the second-half, with Mackey ripping through Lavey's centre and dishing off to Cormac Daly, who took his time in firing to Conor Martin's net.

Oisin Kieran sailed over to up the lead to three and that margin would remain after McEnroe (free) pointed a free won by Fergal Reilly in front of the posts, cancelling out Jordan's at the far end.

Some patient build-up play rewarded the Keogan's men a five-point lead after Ronan Flanagan fisted over but, remarkably, that was to be their last score of the night with just 40 minutes up on the clock.

Substitute Shane Tierney and Duke fashioned the next two points before Tierney blazeed a goal chance wide in the 51st minute.

McDonnell's charges would make sure to take full profit from their next tour a minute later though, capitalising on their counterparts being caught 'at sixes and sevens' at the back and it was Darren Jordan that slammed in the finish that had the umpire fetching his green flag.

There'd be no scores to separate them after that, although Oliver Smith and Tierney both had their chances late on prior to some crazy turnovers from both sides in injury-time, as it was Castlerahan that ended up hanging on in the finish.

Lavey: Conor Martin; David Conroy, Fergal Smith, Joey Jordan; Chris Conroy (0-1, 1f), Finbar Jordan, Gerry Smith; Ray Cullivan, Dean Rutherford; Darren Jordan (1-3, 1f), Paul Gilcreest, Darragh Conaty; Senan Gilcreest (0-1), Karl Duke (0-2), Oliver Smith (1-0). Subs: Shane Tierney (0-1, 1f) for D Rutherford (38mins), Stephen Jordan for S Gilcreest (46).

Castlerahan: Jamie Leahy; Stephen Cooney, Karl Kiernan, Enda O'Connell; Paul Smith, Oisin Kiernan (0-1), Pauric Smith; Cormac Daly (1-0), Fergal Reilly; Cian McEnroe (0-4, 1f), Cian Mackey (0-2, 1f), Gavin Daly; Enda Flanagan, Ronan Flanagan (0-1), Oisin O'Connell (1-0). Subs: Daniel Lynch for E Flanagan (HT), Sean Brady for O O'Connell (49mins).

Ref: Gerry Sheridan (Mullahoran)

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