Crosserlough 3-6
Lavey 0-13

by Shane Corrigan
at Kingspan Breffni Park

Three well-timed goals proved all the difference as Crosserlough upset Lavey in this evening's senior football championship clash at Kingspan Breffni Park.

In an entertaining game, which saw Bernard Morris' men race out of the traps, it was a late goal from 16-year-old Pierce Smith that settled the issue for the winners, whom never relinquished their lead once talisman Barry McKiernan handed it to them in the fourth minute.

Despite being rattled by their opponents' spirited start, which included a goal after 10 minutes, Lavey forced their way back into this game in the second-half, with former county senior Joey Jordan leading from the back and the deadly free-taking of Chris Conroy, who finished with 0-8 to his name.

However, the concession of two second-half goals proved to be a killer blow for the favourites and they will now have to come through the backdoor over the coming weeks in order to keep their championship dreams alive.

Crosserlough enjoyed a bright start to this encounter with their marksman McKiernan notching their first two scores from his corner-forward station before Conroy had Lavey off the mark on six minutes through a 30-metre free.

McKiernan's third in seven minutes helped Crosserlough's momentum to continue flowing and they'd land a massive punch in the 10th minute when Dara McVeety's menacing drive into the square saw the ball end up in the Lavey net. The 19-year-old, who has had an outstanding summer for Cavan in the All-Ireland SFC, broke through and saw his effort rebound off the post and off Lavey defender Gerard Smith, who could not prevent the ball from crossing his own line.

Conroy's second point was cancelled out by a Pierce Smith free moments later, but Lavey eventually got themselves in the game via a Paul Gilcreest '45' and a fine score from Darren Jordan, who punched a hole in Crosserlough's steady defence.

A McKiernan free saw the Kilnaleck men halt a 12-minute scoring drought before Shane Conaty's superb point on the eve of half-time left it at 1-5 to 0-5 for the interval.

Lavey boss John Brady sent on both Stephen Jordan and Senan Gilcreest, while moving Ray Cullivan in to full-forward and Karl Duke at centre-field, to try and shore up things for the New Inns men for the second-half and their start was positive as two Conroy frees in the opening seven minutes made it a one-point game.

Disaster would strike again for the black and whites though when Pierce Smith latched onto possession in their square and offloaded to substitute Adrian Smith, who finished to the net emphatically with his first touch.

Lavey responded brilliantly, however, rattling off the next three scores via the reliable Conroy (2 frees) and a strong burst forward from Joey Jordan, who smashed over Ciaran Galligan's crossbar. Cullivan brought them level in the 47th minute before Thomas McEvoy finished off a slick move at the other end to steer Crosserlough back in front.

Conroy's sixth free kept those in attendance in for an enthralling finish, as both teams went all out in the closing stages, and it was Crosserlough that would get the break when a fine save from Conor Martin fell perfectly for Pierce Smith to bury and seal the black and ambers' place in the next round.

Crosserlough: Ciaran Galligan; Mark Lynch, Pauric McKiernan, Declan McCabe; Damian Lynch, Colin Lynch, Shane McManus; Jonathan Crowe, Tomas McEvoy (0-1); Eoin Cusack, Dara McVeety, James McEvoy; Barry McKiernan (0-4, 1f), Karl Smith, Pierce Smith (1-1, 1f). Subs: Adrian Smith (1-0) for K Smith (38), Karl Lynch for Cusack (56), David Shalvey for J McEvoy (56).

Lavey: Conor Martin; Aaron Smith, Fergal Smith, Kevin Donohoe; Dean Rutherford, Joey Jordan (0-1), Gerard Smith; Ray Cullivan (0-1), Shane Conaty (0-1); Darren Jordan (0-1), Chris Conroy (0-8, 7f), James Tierney; Paul Gilchreest (0-2, 1 '45'), Karl Duke, Darren Monaghan. Subs: Stephen Jordan for Rutherford (HT), Senan Gilcreest for J Tierney (HT), Darragh Conaty for Monaghan (36), Ronan Smith for S Conaty (60).

Ref: Michael G Brady (Mullahoran) Tweet

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