This was a poor game throughout, but a Mark Lyons goal midway through the second half was to prove decisive for Erne Gaels.

    Lyons got on the end of an excellent pass by Ronan Gallagher and although his first effort was saved, the rebound fell kindly for him and he buried the ball to the net.

    This score put Erne Gaels ahead for the first time in the second half and it was a lead they were not to relinquish.

    Irvinestown did manage to close the gap to a single point with nine minutes remaining, but Erne Gaels finished the game strongly and they hit four points without reply towards the end of the game to secure a 1-11 to 0-09 victory.

    Erne Gaels were missing midfielder Dara McGrath who had picked up an injury, but were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the game as they raced into a 0-03 to 0-00 lead after three minutes.

    Mark Lyons opened the scoring with the first attack of the game, shooting over a fine point and Ronan Gallagher added the second when he dispossessed Ryan McGuigan before pointing.

    Shane O’Brien pointed Erne Gaels third when he caught a cross field ball before pointing.

    This though was to be Erne Gaels final score of the half as Irvinestown started to pick up the breaks around midfield.

    Irvinestown registered their first score of the game when Gary Maguire pointed following good work from Niall Tinney and Ryan McGuigan.

    The first half was an error strewn half with both sides guilty of poor shooting and poor distribution.

    Irvinestown drew level before half time with two pointed frees from Manus O’Kane to leave the scores at the break 0-03 a piece.

    A fine Gary Maguire score at the start of the second half put Irvinestown into the lead for the first time in the encounter with one point coming from near to the right hand sideline.

    Ronan Gallagher levelled the game again with a pointed free, but Irvinestown moved back ahead after an excellent Manus O’Kane point.

    Sean McMahon pointed when found in space to tie the sides, but Erne Gaels passing was at times very poor and they gave away a lot of possession.

    Conor McGuigan again edged Irvinestown in front, 0-06 to 0-05, and they moved two clear when Manus O’Kane collected a long ball and beat his man before pointing.

    At this stage Irvinestown were on top and were picking out their players well, but a five minute spell from Erne Gaels once again gave them the advantage. Shane O’Brien began to come to the fore at midfield and when Erne Gaels held on to the ball and worked it into scoring chances instead of kicking it away aimlessly, they looked a lot more effective.

    Ciaran Smyth pointed before Lyons added his goal and when O’Brien tagged on a further point Erne Gaels found themselves three points to the good.

    Conor McGuigan and Shane Goane brought Irvinestown back into contention and left a single point separating the sides at 1-07 to 0-09 with nine minutes left, but that was to be as close as Irvinestown got, as Erne Gaels took control of the game in the closing stages.