Lacken 0-13
Killygarry 1-10

Lacken and Killygarry must do it all again after extra-time couldn't separate the sides in this evening's senior championship play-off at Kingspan Breffni Park.

In a game in which Killygarry never once led, Lacken looked to be home and dry after recovering from the blow of a 27th minute goal from Stephen McGovern to hold a three-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

However, in similar fashion to the win they had over Denn, Killygarry dug deep in the closing stages and got the late scores, with a fisted effort from full-back Padraig Cahill forcing extra-time. After the first 10 minutes the teams stayed even, but in the second-half Lacken finally looked to be on their way with two fine scores from Niall McKiernan in the opening four minutes.

Killygarry, who struck 18 wides over the 80 minutes, found that little bit extra again though and through Ross Sheridan and Reilly (free) they set-up another clash against Jason O'Reilly's team with the quarter-final berth against Ballinagh again on the line.

Lacken started in brilliant fashion when Niall McKiernan - Man of the Match in last year's IFC final - burst forward from centre-field and lashed over with power off his left boot.

Martin Reilly had two chances (one a free) at the other end to put Killygarry in front, but sent both wide and the Crubany men were lucky not pay the full price when Raymond Galligan was threaded through on goal and crashed the ball off the inside of Paddy Galligan's post. It was a let off for Benny Reddy's chargers and they eventually got off the mark with a well-executed '45' from Reilly.

McKiernan launched a diagonal ball into Finbar O'Reilly's chest for Lacken's second on the quarter hour mark and the intermediate champions got into their rhythm somewhat after that.

First, Michael Shanaghy saw a goal chance brilliantly stopped by Paddy Galligan, who would be forced off with injury on the eve of half-time. A slick point from Raymond Galligan soon followed ahead of a Finbar O'Reilly free which coasted Lacken three in front with seven minutes to go in the half.

All of Lacken's good work would be gone in a flash when a lapse at the back allowed Reilly's short free to be punched by Stephen McGovern to the back of Colin Comerford's net.

The goal couldn't have come at a more perfect time for Killygarry, whom were in danger of being overrun beforehand, as frees from McKiernan and Reilly (45) somehow saw the teams go in all square at the interval.

Reddy introduced both Stephen McHugh and Cathal Keaney to the fray to try and shore up Killygarry's performance in the second-half, but it was all Lacken in the early stages of the restart as points from Finbar O'Reilly (2) and McKiernan had them on the right course come the final quarter.

Killygarry sent three chances the wrong side of the post, with Shane Kelly and Cathal Keaney the guilty parties, as they failed to profit from a sustained period of possession and it took veteran Thomas Leonard to finally end the 20-minute scoring drought for them.

Lacken failed to punish their opponents for their missed chances and despite the poor quality display, all in attendance would be in for a nervy finish once Paddy Lynch's effort split the posts and left a point in it with just over five minutes remaining.

Michael Shanaghy pushed Lacken back into a two-point lead but they were lucky not to be rocked by a goal when a well-worked move at the end other end threaded Cathal Keaney through but the substitute smashed over before hitting the deck.

Stephen Brady struck the perfect response for Lacken after getting out in front of his marker, turning sharply and slotting over. A Reilly free quickly erased the two-point advantage again and when Padraig Cahill was allowed to roam through down the right and fist over, Lacken had suddenly surrendered the lead which they'd held throughout the entire second-half and would be faced with 20 nervy minutes of extra-time to try and rectify it.

Finbar O'Reilly pointed inside the opening minute to get them off to a good start but a close range free won inside by Reilly, which the Cavan ace converted, levelled and it stayed that way until the break, despite more chances towards the close for Reilly and Leonard.

This time Lacken punished their opponents for their missed chances, starting the second-half in superb fashion with a brace of points from the powerful McKiernan, who wouldn't be stopped once in his stride.

However, Killygarry dug their deepest in the closing stages and grabbed a gem through Ross Sheridan before Reilly nailed a late free with the pressure on to confirm another meeting between these two sides.

Lacken: Colin Comerford; Martin Brady, Daniel Brady, Killian Galligan; Shane Finnegan, Philip Moynagh, James Moynagh; Joe Crowe, James Galligan; Michael Shanaghy (0-1), Raymond Galligan (0-2), Stephen Brady (0-1); Martin Brady, Finbar O'Reilly (0-5, 2f), Niall McKiernan (0-4, 1f). Subs: Colm Sheridan for Martin Brady (53mins), Edmund Sheridan for J Moynagh (55, inj), Declan Brady for D Brady (60), Martin Brady for J Galligan (ET), Shane O'Reilly for K Galligan (ET).

Killygarry: Paddy Galligan; Michael McGovern, Padraig Cahill (0-1), Daryl McKenna; Ross Sheridan (0-1), Andy McGovern, Fergal Clarke; Brendan Murray, Paddy Lynch (0-1); Shane Kelly, Martin Reilly (0-5, 3f, 2 45s), Thomas Leonard (0-1); Daniel Talbot, John Lyng, Stephen McGovern (1-0). Subs: Tomas Kelly for P Galligan (30mins, inj), Stephen McHugh for S McGovern (HT), Cathal Keaney (0-1) for D Talbot (HT), Fintan Galligan for S Kelly (ET).

Ref: Tony Gregory (Bailieborough) Tweet

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