Arva 0-18
Drung 3-6

Arva are through to the semi-finals of the intermediate championship after seeing off a stiff challenge from Drung tonight at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Billed as firm favourites for this quarter-final, last year's junior champions were rocked by the concession of three goals from the Bunnoe men and it left them having to put all shoulders to the wheel for much of the second-half, when Ciaran Brady, Jonathan McCabe and Conal Sheridan came up trumps for them big time.

Drung looked to be in an ideal position after hitting the net before and after half-time via sub Greg Rossiter and livewire Paddy McEntee, as it opened up a five-point lead for them.

However, Arva's go to forwards were always carrying a threat in this game, as they outscored their opponents by 0-11 to 0-3 after McEntee's major, which was always going to see them through here.

The Dalcassians were scoreless for the opening 17 minutes of this contest as McCabe, Kevin Bouchier (2) and Brady put the early points in the board before Declan McEntee hit back with an accurate response for his side.

A Sheridan free pushed the difference back to four but Drung replied in the best possible manner this time, slipping through Dan Fay, who fired a brilliant finish to the corner of Shane McEntee's net.

It was very much game on after that, with Michael McEntee drawing the game level from a close range free. McCabe and Paddy McEntee, Drung's chief outlet up front, kept things even until Ciaran Cooney nudged Arva back into the lead but it would be a short-lived one for the men from Michael Cully Park.

Arva's James Morris runs with the ball against Drung in Breffni Park

Two minutes into injury-time, Declan McEntee sent a high ball into Arva's square which 'keeper Shane McEntee didn't properly clear, leaving the inevitable to happen, and it was Rossiter that raised the green flag from two yards out.

It was perfect timing from Drung's perspective, as they went in at the interval with a 2-3 to 0-7 lead, and they weren't done yet either.

Within 20 seconds of the restart Paddy McEntee had the ball in the net for them again. This time Barry Watters' pinpoint pass picked out the diminutive attacker on the edge of the square and he blasted in splendid finish, rocking Arva to their very core.

To keep their championship afloat, a five-point deficit would have to be erased and the Longford border men gradually got into their rhythm, with McCabe (2, 1 free), Shane Hamilton, and Sheridan all sending over points in the ensuing 10 minutes before Peter Morris and Sheridan (free) brought them level.

In fact, Arva had rattled off 0-10 in between points from Barry and sibling sub Garry Watters, with Thomas Brady, Bouchier, McCabe and Ciaran Brady bumping up their tally significantly. The latter had really stood up for the would-be winners when most necessary and Drung had no answers for constant flowing attacks which were built from the back by Arva's men in single digits.

A Declan McEntee free deep into injury-time left Adrian Delaney's charges with a chance to force a replay, but Arva weren't prepared to let them hit the net again as they now move on to the last four whilst ending Drung's campaign in the process.

Arva: Shane McEntee; Danny Ellis, James Morris, Paul Bouchier; Cormac McCabe, Ciaran Brady (0-2), Thomas Brady (0-1); Cian Sheridan, Fergal McGlade; Conor McEntee, Kevin Bouchier (0-3), Peter Morris (0-1); Jonathan McCabe (0-5, 1f), Conal Sheridan (0-4, 3f), Ciaran Cooney (0-1). Subs: Shane Hamilton (0-1), Dermot McGlade, Stephen Ellis, Peter Connelly.

Drung: James Reilly; John Cassidy, Alan Curran, Paul Heuston; Greg Rossiter, Michael McEntee (0-1, 1f), Kevin McCaul; Aiden McCaul, Aaron Watson; Dan Fay (1-0), Barry Watters (0-1), Philip Monaghan; Paddy McEntee (1-1), Mark Cassidy, Declan McEntee (0-2, 1f). Subs: Andrew Rossiter (1-0), Gary Watters (0-1), Martin Reilly, Stephen Fay.

Ref: Raymond Tynan (Ramor United)

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