Killinkere 3-11
Butlersbridge 0-8

Two goals in the space of three minutes helped propel Killinkere into the semi-finals of the intermediate championship tonight at Butlersbridge's expense.

At a rain-soaked Kingspan Breffni Park, Damien Donohoe's side made the most of 10 first-half wides from their opponents to lead by five at the break and then sank them with quick fire goals from Darren Smith and Jason McMahon in the 44th and 47th minutes.

Smith's strike was a truly salient one for the victors, with Feargal Flanagan having been denied the umpire's green flag twice at the other end just moments beforehand, and after McMahon sent in his major Ciaran Sexton added another to close out the victory.

Those strikes were the decisive blows for the Bridge in making their second consecutive quarter-final exit, while their conquerors now advance into the last four for the first time since 2014's defeat to Cootehill on the same stage.

From the throw-in, Butlersbridge aimed for Flanagan at full-forward and they got their opening score when the Cavan senior was dragged down and Caoimhin O'Reilly pointed the resultant free.

The same tactic resulted in possession breaking the way of Killian Leddy in the right corner and he side-stepped his marker to fist over as Adrian Delaney's men looked to be rolling in the opening stages.

Fitzsimons' first free of the night got Killinkere off the mark in the fourth minute and they avoided disaster soon afterwards when 'keeper Eugene Clarke stood strong to deny John Fitzpatrick an early goal for the Bridge.

That was a wake-up call for Donohoe's men and they responded with the next five scores from Ciaran Sexton, Noel McGovern, Fitzsimons (2) and Breen Smith to open up a four-point lead in the space of 13 minutes.

It was far from one-way traffic during that period though, with Butlersbridge having sent seven opportunities wide of the post which allowed their counterparts to assume control.

Killian Leddy eventually ended a scoring drought for the Bridge which had spanned 18 minutes, but in the pouring rain Killinkere weren't willing to let their lead be eaten into as points from Fitzsimons (free) and Gary Denning left it at 0-8 to 0-3 for the half.

The village men got exactly the start they needed to the second-half, notching the first three scores via O'Reilly (2 frees) and an inspirational point from John Fitzpatrick, who rushed forward from his own half-back line untouched before firing over from 40 metres.

A third Fitzsimons free was the Killinkere response and Clarke got them off hook at the game's crucial juncture on 43 minutes, denying Flanagan a goal on two separate occasions after back-to-back lapses in the would-be winners full-back line.

Clarke's second save led to a counter from his team which created the game's opening goal in the 44th minute, and it came after Gareth Henry let possession spill in the dreadful conditions and Smith - just on as a replacement for Damien Sexton - was quickest to steer the ball to the net.

It was real hammer blow to the Bridge and the worst was yet to come as they got caught out on the break again and it afforded sub Martin Reilly the time and space feed McMahon, who made no mistake from close range and all but end the game as a contest.

Smith (free) and Patrick Flynn maintained the nine-point margin into the closing 10 minutes and when the Bridge went for another goal the clearance again ended up finishing in the back of their own net when all was said and done.

This time Fitzsimons and McMahon combined brilliantly to find Ciaran Sexton and the wing forward crashed the ball beyond Henry to seal his side's long-awaited and thoroughly deserved semi-final return.

Killinkere: Eugene Clarke; Ollie Sharkey, Kevin McCabe, Gerard Brady; Breen Smith (0-1), Liam McCabe, Louis Fay-Cooper; Jason McMahon (1-0), Emmet Fitzsimons (0-5, 3f); Gary Denning (0-1), Paul Kerr, Ciaran Sexton (1-2); Damien Sexton, Noel McGovern (0-1), Peter McCabe. Subs: Anthony Brady for G Denning (42mins), Darren Smith (1-1, 1f) for D Sexton (42), Martin Reilly for P Kerr (46), Brian Clarke for P McCabe (57), Dylan McAleer for G Brady (59), Kieran Smith for C Sexton (59).

Butlersbridge: Gareth Henry; Cahir O'Reilly, Pauric McGearty, Diarmuid McCorry; Patrick Flynn (0-1), Noel McPhillips, Andrew McConnell; Peter Conaty, John Fitzpatrick (0-1); Declan Callaghan, Caoimhin O'Reilly (0-3, 3f), Shane O'Rourke; Jonathan Leddy, Feargal Flanagan, Killian Leddy (0-2). Subs: John Shannon for S O'Rourke (37mins), Karlos Conlon for N McPhillips (39), Darren Fitzpatrick for D Callaghan (48), Paul Flynn (0-1) for J Leddy (59).

Ref: Stephen McKiernan (Kildallan)

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