Belturbet 2-12
Shercock 0-18 

(After extra-time) 

Extra-time couldn't separate Belturbet and Shercock tonight as they played out a pulsating draw in the intermediate championship quarter-final replay at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Two first-half goals in the space of three minutes looked to have Belturbet on their way to the semis but they ran into a resolute Sherock outfit in the second-half which drew the game level soon after the Rories lost centre-back Kevin McConnell to a second yellow card in the 43rd minute.

Belturbet boss Jason O'Reilly, who made his first start of the championship at left corner-forward, looked to have won it with an injury-time free before Declan McIntyre held his nerve at the other end to force extra-time. It was there where Shercock gained their first lead of the game, doubled and then surrendered it all in the space of 10 minutes which ensures the sides must meet again to decide which one goes through to the last four.

Belturbet signalled their intent early on in this replay with points from Damien O'Reilly and Brendan Fitzpatrick inside two minutes to settle them in nicely.

Damien McIntyre landed Shercock's first in the fourth minute and the sides would be level by the 11th minute after two frees from Killian Clarke (one a '45') and Fitzpatrick's second white flag.

Disaster struck for Shercock a minute later when the deadly Fitzpatrick slipped Enda Henry through and the centre-forward rebounded in his blocked effort beyond Colin Courtney to the net.

A Clerkin free at the other end was the response but when Jason O'Reilly's quick free found his brother Barry in yards of space to bury in the Rories' second goal in three minutes things started to look lopsided.

The game was in danger of slipping away from the trailers, but Ryan Clerkin grabbed them a sorely required score and two more from Niall Clerkin (one a free) reduced the deficit to three. Fitzpatrick curled over a beauty and lashed one over before the interval, leaving it at 2-5 to 0-7.

A Clarke free reopened Shercock's account for the second-half and when the Cavan senior sent Brian Sankey through it was a two-point game after five minutes of the resumption.

Belturbet hit back with a Jason O'Reilly free but their lead looked shaky when Ryan Clerkin was sent through for a handy point and they lost McConnell to a second caution after taking down Damien McIntyre at the centre of the field.

Indeed the early stages of the third quarter belonged to Shercock and they'd be level by the 52nd minute thanks to Niall Clerkin's fourth and a blasted effort from Declan McIntyre with the chance of a goal on.

The closing stages were high intensity to say the least and Belturbet thought they had it won when substitute Stuart Dunne was dragged down on a blistering run which allowed Jason O'Reilly to convert the 25-metre free as the game entered injury-time.

From the resultant kick-out, Clarke gained possession to feed Declan McIntyre through and the wing forward stayed cool to send the game into the added periods, with the final score-line reading 2-7 to 0-13.

Stuart Fitzpatrick's introduction at full-back increased Belturbet's numbers back to 15 for extra-time, but their opponents still looked as though they had an extra man as a point from sub Paddy McPhilips gave them their first lead of the night two minutes in.

Damien O'Reilly levelled but the Monaghan border men were keeping their noses in front with Damien McIntyre and Ryan Clerkin adding to their tally and establishing a first two-point lead. Eoin McGuigan's single and another Clarke '45' kept it at two and it stayed like that for the short break as Henry (free) and Ryan Clerkin traded scores in injury-time, leaving it at 0-18 to 2-10.

Another score might well have done for the leaders but it was Belturbet that dug deepest in the early stages of the second-half, gaining a free which Henry stroked over before Dunne's long range effort was allowed to bounce in the square and over Courtney's crossbar.

The sides couldn't be separated from there on, although Shercock saw late chances for Clarke and Declan McIntyre drift narrowly wide, as it finished all square once more for another replay.

Belturbet: Danny Anscombe; Shane Fitzpatrick, Peter Shannon, Mark Lawlor; Mark Teevan, Kevin McConnell, Damien O'Reilly (0-2); Cian Vaughan, Eoin McGuigan (0-1); Niall O'Reilly, Enda Henry (1-2, 2f), Brendan Fitzpatrick (0-4); Barry O'Reilly (1-0), Niall Lawlor, Jason O'Reilly (0-2, 2f). Subs: Stuart Dunne (0-1) for N Lawlor (35mins), Cillian O'Reilly for N O'Reilly (38, b/c), Donald McDonald for B O'Reilly (53), Niall O'Reilly for J O'Reilly (70).

Shercock: Colin Courtney; James McMahon, Colin Clerkin, Liam Og O'Reilly; Damien McIntyre (0-1), Brian Sankey (0-1), Shane Clarke; Michael McEneaney, Sean Magee; Dean O'Reilly, John McEnroe, Declan McIntyre (0-2); Niall Clerkin (0-5, 2f), Killian Clarke (0-4, 2f, 2 '45s), Ryan Clerkin (0-4). Subs: Paddy McPhilips (0-1) for J McMahon (HT), Lee Clarke for J McEnroe (58), Joe O'Reilly for Sean Magee (76).

Ref: Noel Mooney (Cavan Gaels)

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