Shercock 2-12
Belturbet 3-6

Shercock finally moved into the semi-finals of the intermediate championship tonight after coming out on top in another battle with Belturbet at Kingspan Breffni Park.

In the third meeting in three weeks between these two sides, there were no signs of fatigue in the first-half as the ball hit the net five times and it was Shercock that held the lead at the halfway stage despite conceding three of the majors.

Killian Clarke's first minute penalty and a Niall Clerkin goal in the 20th minute were trumped by three-pointers from Jason O'Reilly and Niall Lawlor (2) it was a fourth goal that Belturbet sorely required in the second-half and had they got it it might have been a different outcome.

There could be no arguing the merit of Shercock's victory though, outscoring their opponents by 14 scores to 9 over the hour, which sets them up for a showdown with Ballyhaise next month.

Barry O'Reilly's team enjoyed the dream start to this quarter-final second replay, earning a penalty 20 seconds after the throw-in which Killian Clarke expertly tucked away to cue the triumphant roar of the Shercock crowd.

The next four scores would go the way of the Monaghan border men as well, as Ryan Clerkin (2), Clarke (free) and Paddy McPhilips bumped their team's lead up to seven and the Rories looked to be in some early bother.

Jason O'Reilly's goal in the 10th minute came at a badly needed time for his team and their next attack would reap a similar benefit when Lawlor's burst through the centre saw him get off his shot and despite a hand on it from Colin Courtney it managed to trickle over the line.

It meant an O'Reilly free had the teams all square by the 20th minute, when the former Cavan forward was replaced by Stuart Dunne, but Niall Clerkin soon had Shercock back in command after taking a pass off Clarke, who cut in from the left in devastating fashion, and finished to the net for the game's fourth major.

Damien McIntyre doubled the lead a minute later but the teams would be level again when Barry O'Reilly got himself axed down in the Shercock square and Lawlor buried the penalty beyond Courtney, meaning Niall Clerkin's frees would be all that separated the teams at the half (2-6 to 3-1).

Chasing the game, Belturbet were made start the second-half without key forward Brendan Fitzpatrick, presumably through injury, and it certainly made a difference.

A towering fetch from Clarke saw him combine with John McEnroe to send Niall Clerkin through for the first score after the restart and two frees from Clarke within a minute of each other saw the leaders beginning to build on the advantage.

Damien O'Reilly launched over a free from 45 metres to halt the rot for the men in maroon and when the Cavan senior found Donald McDonald, Fitzpatrick's replacement, with a fine pass they were certainly right back in contention.

Two more Clarke frees argued that point but when O'Reilly and Fitzpatrick were reintroduced Beturbet were obviously keen to increase their goal threat.

McDonald latched on to a short free from Damien O'Reilly to shoot over and the Rories looked to have the goal they desired in the 55th minute but Stuart Dunne's fine strike was disallowed and pulled back for a free by referee Margaret Farrelly.

Belturbet were livid with the Laragh United official not playing advantage for the pull back on Dunne and from the resultant free Enda Henry's goal effort would be caught by Courtney.

Henry registered the next two scores (one a free) but it still left them two short before Ryan Clerkin fisted over the insurance point at the very end to send Shercock through at the third attempt.

Shercock: Colin Courtney; Paddy McPhilips (0-1), Colin Clerkin, Liam Og O'Reilly; Damien McIntyre (0-1), Brian Sankey, Shane Clarke; Michael McEneaney, Sean Magee; Dean O'Reilly, John McEnroe, Declan McIntyre; Niall Clerkin (1-2, 1f), Killian Clarke (1-5, 5f, 1 pen), Ryan Clerkin (0-3). Sub: Ciaran Lennon for J McEnroe (60).

Belturbet: Danny Anscombe; Shane Fitzpatrick, Peter Shannon, Mark Lawlor; Mark Teevan, Kevin McConnell, Damien O'Reilly (0-1, 1f); Cian Vaughan, Eoin McGuigan; Niall O'Reilly, Enda Henry (0-2, 1f), Brendan Fitzpatrick; Barry O'Reilly, Niall Lawlor (2-0, 1 pen), Jason O'Reilly (1-1, 1f). Subs: Stuart Dunne for J O'Reilly (20mins), Donald McDonald (0-2) for B Fitzpatrick (HT, inj), John Cahill for S Fitzpatrick (45), Jason O'Reilly for B O'Reilly (48), Brendan Fitzpatrick for C Vaughan (51), Cillian O'Reilly for N O'Reilly (59).

Ref: Margret Farrelly (Laragh United)

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