Arva 2-9

Bailieborough 2-8

Arva were made earn their first win of this year's intermediate championship after seeing off Bailieborough's stiff challenge in an intriguing clash at Kingpan Breffni Park this evening.

In the end, goals from Thomas Brady and sub Kevin Bouchier proved crucial for Peter Reilly's side as they let two four-point leads slip in the second-half, with Rhys Clarke's 53rd minute penalty really putting the heat on in what was a must-win game for them.

Points off the bench from Bouchier and Conal Sheridan were what got last year's beaten finalists over the line, but they'll still need a win from their remaining round four game to advance to the quarter-finals, with Bailieborough likely in the same boat.

Brendan Argue's fourth minute free had the Shamrocks off the mark in this one and they stayed in the ascendancy after county man Michael Argue sailed over a superb score to cancel out Arva's opener from Peter Morris (free).

A few chances went to the wayside after that but the trailers would make up for theirs in the 15th minute when Ciaran Brady sent his brother Thomas through on goal and the full-back provided a splendid finish to the back James Cooney's net.

Paul Bouchier was afforded the time and space to extend the Longford border men's lead to three, as their opponents went through a scoring drought which spanned 23 minutes before Michael Argue burst through to land his second, ending his side's famine.

Reilly's men would finish out the half in better fashion, with Ciaran Brady being put through by Jonathan McCabe for an over and Ciaran Cooney's free leaving it at 1-4 to 0-3 when the sides got in from the rain.

McCabe and Ciaran Brady set the second-half tone early for Arva, as each rifled over points off the left boot, prior to Michael Argue landing another long range score to keep his side well within touching distance.

Ciaran Brady cancelled out his Cavan team mate within a minute later, but Bailieborough finally began to grow into the contest with points from Damien Reilly and James Fulton (free) narrowing their deficit to the four by the 40th minute.

Three minutes later and the ball was in the Arva net. Opting for the direct route, Brendan Argue's 40-metre free was dropped into Conor Gilsenan in the square and the former Cavan 'keeper provided a deft touch past Richard Keith for the umpire's green flag.

Arva very nearly responded in kind when sub Kevin Bouchier found an opening but his soccer-style effort rebounded off the butt of the post and Bailieborough cleared the danger.

It was a let off for the Shamrocks and they'd failed to learn their lesson as Bouchier was allowed to creep past them again on 51 minutes and this time the former Cavan U21 ace made no mistake, flicking a perfect side-line pass from Peter Morris past Cooney and into the net.

Back came the east siders though, with Reilly cutting past Shane Finnegan to bear down on goal and get himself impeded, which forced referee Oliver Og O'Reilly to signal horizontal arms and award the penalty.

Clarke rolled home the spot-kick past Keith with expertise to provide an fascinating finish to this contest, with Arva sub Sheridan helping to take the heat off a bit with a fine point along the right flank.

Michael Argue's sole free for the evening kept the margin at one heading into injury-time, when the Shamrocks lost Gilsenan to a black card, but Bouchier was able to ensure the win with a coolly stroked score off the left.

That left Bailieborough chasing their third goal, which never came, a final score from Clarke left them one short and defenders Aidan Reilly and Sean Cooney sent opportunities in injury-time wide of the post.

Arva: Richard Keith; Cormac McCabe, Thomas Brady (1-0), Danny Ellis; Stephen Ellis, James Morris, Conor McEntee; Fergal McGlade, Ciaran Brady (0-3); Peter Morris (0-1, 1f), Jonathan McCabe (0-1), Paul Bouchier (0-1); Ciaran Cooney (0-1, 1f), Peter Conneely, Shane Finnegan. Subs: Kevin Bouchier (1-1) for J McCabe (42mins), Shane Hamilton for P Bouchier (54), Conal Sheridan (0-1) for C Cooney (58).

Bailieborough: James Cooney; Jack Smith, Sean Cooney, Ciaran Reilly; Philip Clarke, Declan Reilly, Aidan Reilly (0-1); Peter Clerkin, Michael Argue (0-3, 1f); Rhys Clarke (1-1, 1 pen), Christopher Dunne, Brendan Argue (0-1, 1f); James Fulton (0-1, 1f), Conor Gilsenan (1-0), Damien Reilly (0-1). Subs: Eoin Sullivan for B Argue (49), Conor Tierney for P Clarke (54), Senan Reilly for D Reilly (58).

Ref: Oliver Og O'Reilly (Mullahoran)

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