Killeshandra 2-7
Cavan Gaels 2-5

A goal in each half proved just enough to see Killeshandra past Cavan Gaels and into the first round of the intermediate championship this evening at Kingspan Breffni Park.

After dominating the opening 30 minutes of this preliminary round encounter, where the Gaels failed to score from open play, the Leaguers saw their six-point lead reduced to just one after John Gurhy's superb goal brought the Cavan town side back into the contest.

However, the second-string outfit failed to capitalise on other opportunities in the third quarter and when Dara Tighe came off the bench to raise Killeshandra's second green flag time was against Cavan Gaels whom, despite netting a late penalty, finished two points short come the long whistle.

Killeshandra got off the mark through a point from their energetic corner-forward Shane O'Reilly which was soon erased by a Vinny Coyle '45' at the other end.

A sizzling run from centre-back by Cillian O'Reilly helped Killeshandra back into the lead before they landed the first major blow when a long ball in from Tomas O'Reilly was punched to the net by Declan McKiernan.

What ensued was a scoreless 10 minutes, as Killeshandra put more chances to waste than their opponents, before another burst forward by Cillian O'Reilly ended in his second point and a five-point lead for the Leaguers.

The Gaels could muster little in response, as they persisted with their long ball tactic, and it was Shane O'Reilly's second point that closed the half at 1-4 to 0-1.

Andrew Graham's second-half opener ended a scoring drought for the Gaels that spanned over 20 minutes and after seeing a few chances go by the way side they left two scores in it when they worked possession out to Alan O'Riordan and the wing back struck over with his favoured left boot.

The Gaels' momentum would hit its peak in the 40th minute when Gurhy was put through and finished brilliantly to the net off Joe Masterson's far post. The Cavan town side were fortunate not to concede something similar in the next attack after Ritchie Murphy did brilliantly to keep out Damien Higgins' close range effort.

The Leaguers instead had to settle for two points from Shane O'Reilly and McKiernan (free), with Coyle's first from play ensuring that their opponents stayed within touching distance entering the last 10 minutes.

However, all the Gaels' good work in the early part of the second-half went out the window when Killeshandra substitute Tighe dribbled past their full-back line and provided a soccer-style finish underneath Murphy to put his side firmly in the driving-seat heading towards the close.

A long-range point from Sean McKiernan stretched the advantage further and a late penalty from Richie Graham would only provide consolation to the Gaels, whom must now come through the back door to keep their intermediate championship hopes alive.

Killeshandra: Joe Masterson; Conor Smith, Colm Duffy, Kyle Duffy; Rory Braiden, Cillian O'Reilly (0-2), Sean McKiernan (0-1); Aaron Brady, Tomas O'Reilly; Damien Higgins, Declan McKiernan (1-1, 1f), Eamon O'Reilly; Shane Murphy, Cein Sweeney, Shane O'Reilly (0-3). Subs: Dara Tighe for Sweeney (44mins).

Cavan Gaels: Ritchie Murphy; Liam Cooke, Darragh Sexton (0-1), Sean Fitzsimons; Marc Leddy, John Gurhy (1-0), Alan O'Riordan (0-1); Ed O'Hanlon, Cian McKiernan; Vinny Coyle (0-2, 1 '45'), Daniel Graham, Padraig Sexton; Richard Graham (1-0, pen), Cormac Nelligan, Andrew Graham (0-1). Subs: Sean Hanley for Cooke (25mins), Ciaran Flynn for P Sexton (42), Chris Quinn for Fitzsimmons (47), Kavan Donohoe for O'Hanlon (53), Francie Graham for D Graham (55).

Ref: Michael G Brady (Mullahoran) Tweet

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