Lacken 3-10
Cootehill 1-9

Lacken clinched their third intermediate championship title in 15 years tonight as they hit Cootehill for three goals at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Niall McKiernan struck 3-3 for the winners over the hour to devastate Cootehill, who had battled gallantly in the third quarter to take the lead by the fourth after trailing by three at the break.

After letting a five-point lead slip the last day, Jason O'Reilly's team had started this replay in good fashion and were only momentarily stunned when Enda Hessin struck a 12th minute penalty for Cootehill, as the scores of Finbar O'Reilly, Raymond Galligan and McKiernan's first goal sent the favourites in with a three-point advantage at the interval.

Donal McAdam's charges raced out of the traps for the second-half and kicked the first five scores, with Hessin and McCutcheon converting a brace each, but all of their good work would be undone in an instance when Conor Finnegan set-up McKiernan for the net and the big midfielder, who was stationed at full-forward for the majority of the second period, rounded off his hat-trick in the dying stages to seal a memorable triumph for his club.

Brian Sherlock opened the scoring inside two minutes for Cootehill after gathering a break in front of the Lacken posts and popping over. Raymond Galligan equalised in the next attack, after the skipper was found in space by Niall McKiernan and Lacken would have their first lead by the fifth minute when the same McKiernan sent over a left-footed free 35 metres out.

Galligan would see a 40 metre free come off the upright soon after, which veteran Finbar O'Reilly was quickest to and lashed over. The leaders were threatening to overrun their opponents by this stage, but they'd be dealt a set-back when Tom Hayes got himself impeded in their square and Enda Hessin stuck away the resultant penalty.

There was no sign of Lacken pushing the panic button at all though, as they hit back with another point from Finbar O'Reilly before landing a major counter punch in the 21st minute. Some good approach play from the Division One side saw possession fall with Raymond Galligan, who released an unmarked Niall McKiernan on goal and the big midfielder crashed the ball beyond Ryan Carroll to the corner of the net.

A Galligan free followed before the town side gathered some momentum towards the end of the half which saw Stephen O'Connor cutting in from the wing and pointing before John McCutcheon smashed over a 40-metre free to leave it at 1-6 to 1-3 by the halfway stage.

Hessin landed Cootehill's third consecutive point two minutes into the resumption and the lethal corner-forward would make it a one point game moments later with a rousing score, which had the green and white contingent in the stand on their feet.

Lacken had yet to get the ball down their end for the second-half and by the 36th minute it would be all square when Colm Smith was fed in space and had plenty of time to knock over Colin Comerford's crossbar to keep the Hoops' momentum flowing. Tom Hayes would win a free for McCutcheon to strike and give Cootehill their first lead since the 18th minute. The same player added his third on 41 minutes to punish the Lacken backs' indiscipline, as they had been torn apart by their opposite numbers for the entire third quarter.

In a close encounter though, a goal can often make all the difference and when Lacken were presented with another chance of the net they'd take it.

After their first lapse of the second-half at the back, Finbar O'Reilly's quick free found Conor Finnegan in space and the full-forward fisted across to Niall McKiernan, who punched to lob Carroll and hand the lead back to the Sky Blues.

Conor Finnegan and McCutcheon (free) swapped points to keep the difference at one going into what looked like were going to be tense closing stages, but Lacken would have the game practically wrapped up once McKiernan got in for his third major two minutes from time. Cootehill huffed and puffed in desperation for a goal of their own, but points from substitute Stephen Brady, Nevin McKiernan and Niall McKiernan (free) ensured the Tommy Gilroy Cup would be travelling home with Jason O'Reilly's men.

Lacken: Colin Comerford; Shane Finnegan, Trevor Crowe, Damien McKiernan; Nevin McKiernan (0-1), Philip Moynagh, Martin Brady; Martin Brady, Joe Crowe; Niall McKiernan (3-3, 3f), Finbar O'Reilly (0-2), Michael Shanaghy; James Moynagh, Conor Finnegan (0-1), Raymond Galligan (0-2, 1f). Subs: Stephen Brady (0-1) for M Brady (52), Declan Brady for J Moynagh (60).

Cootehill: Ryan Carroll; Ciaran Fox, Barry McGahon, Gerard Argue; John Carney, Joshua Hayes, Dean Connolly; Brian Sherlock (0-1), John McCutcheon (0-4, 4f); Neil McCluskey, Mark Mullan, Stephen O'Connor (0-1); Tom Hayes, Colm Smith (0-1), Enda Hessin (1-2, 1 pen). Subs: Cathal McCabe for C Smith (50), Glen Nulty for C Fox (57), Ryan O'Reilly for M Mullan (60).

Ref: John Cassidy (Shannon Gaels) Tweet

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