Crosserlough 3-8
Drumgoon 1-10

Three well-timed goals made all the difference for Crosserlough as they saw off Drumgoon's challenge in tonight's senior championship clash at Kingspan Breffni Park.

In a repeat of the 2011 intermediate decider, Crosserlough made sure of a different outcome with two goals in the space of a minute in the early part of final quarter to knock the stuffing out of their opponents.

Drumgoon had led for the majority of the first-half, with Pauric McGorry's 13th minute goal looking to set them on their way, until a brilliantly worked move saw Karl Smith net on the eve of half-time and send the teams in all square at the interval.

The losers regained the advantage in the early stages of the second-half but they fell apart in the 45th minute, conceding 2-4 in seven minutes which proved their undoing and moved Crosserlough a step closer to the latter stages.

Keith Fannin opened Drumgoon's account inside the first minute and Edward Gaffney doubled their advantage a minute before Barry McKiernan got Crosserlough off the mark on six minutes.

Paddy Smith (free) and Edward Gaffney exchanged white flags to keep it at one, ahead of Drumgoon landing the first decisive blow when Shane Smith did will to send Pauric McGorry through and the deadly full-forward made no mistake in dispatching the ball past Kieran Galligan in the Crosserlough goal.

McGorry kept up the tormenting when he sent Michael Hannon through on a dashing run through the centre and the former county senior lashed over for a five-point lead with 10 minutes to go in the half.

Adrian Smith grabbed a sorely needed score for the Kilnaleck men a minute later and as their opponents spurned two chances they gathered some momentum with a McKiernan free before losing the injured Enda Gaffney, who was replaced by Darren Gaffney.

The best move of the match soon followed for Crosserlough though when Paul McEvoy darted down the left flank with possession, played a one-two with Shane McManus and crossed to Karl Smith, who finished to the net to send the teams in level at 1-4 apiece.

Crosserlough nearly took their first lead with the first chance of the second-half but Damien Lynch's ambitious effort smacked the butt of the post before drifting wide.

Instead Paddy Smith (free) and Shane McGorry flew over points in the space of two minutes for 'the Goonies' that looked to have them back into their stride until Crosserlough's purple patch arrived in the 45th minute. First, McKiernan swung over in typical fashion from his corner-forward station which was followed by two Adrian Smith scores (one a free) to see the black and ambers into their first lead (1-7 to 1-6).

Drumgoon looked for an immediate response but only managed to up their wides' tally to seven as Crosserlough landed a killer blow to them in the 48th minute under fortuitous circumstances, with James McEvoy's point effort dropping short and slipping through the hands of Corey Smith.

From there, Bernard Morris's charges seized the advantaged, netting again a minute later when Shane McManus intercepted possession in his own half and set up McKiernan finish clinically and all but end the game as a contest.

A sweet score from Karl Smith stretched the lead to seven and rounded off the winners' tally in the 52nd minute, as late braces from Smith and Fannin weren't enough to save Drumgoon.

Crosserlough: Kieran Galligan; Dean McCarthy, Pauric McKiernan, Declan McCabe; Karl Lynch, Colin Lynch, Damien Lynch; Jonathan Crowe, Paul McEvoy; Enda Gaffney (0-1), Karl Smith (1-1), James McEvoy (1-0); Barry McKiernan (1-3, 2f), Shane McManus, Adrian Smith (0-3, 1f). Subs: Darren Gaffney for E Gaffney (inj, 24mins), Kevin Smith for K Lynch (59).

Drumgoon: Corey Smith; Ryan Craddock, Adrian Crossan, Killian Moynagh; Edward Gaffney, Michael Hannon (0-1), Jim McNally; Michael McDonald, Brendan McCabe; Paddy Smith (0-4, 3f), Shane McGorry (0-1), Shane Smith; Keith Fannin (0-3, 1f), Pauric McGorry (1-0), Aogan Og Farrell (0-1). Subs: Darren Cooney for B McCabe (34mins), Tommie McKitterick for R Craddock (37), Tommy Boylan for Farrell (53), Philip Smith for S McGorry (57).
Ref: James Clarke (Killinkere)

In the earlier game at Kingspan Breffni Park, Drumlane were 2-12 to 0-10 winners over Butlersbridge in the intermediate football championship, with two goals from Ciaran O'Reilly helping them secure their status for 2015 having trailed their neighbours 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time.

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