Belnaleck 1-12 Irvinestown 0-08

Belnaleck produced a terrific second half performance as they came from four points down to secure the Intermediate Football Championship title with a 1-12 to 0-08 victory over Irvinestown at Brewster Park today.

It was Irvinestown who looked to be in the driving seat at half time as they led 0-06 to 0-02 but Belnaleck raised their game after the interval and within ten minutes they were back on level terms.

And the decisive score of the contest arrived in the 59th minute as super sub Garvan Quigley finished to the net to put the Art McMurroughs into a five point lead before they saw out injury time to seal the title.

This is a marvellous acheivement for the club who only moved up to Intermediate this year having won the Junior Championship last season and they can now look forward to competing in the Senior Championship in 2019.

Belnaleck had started the game well with influential captain Conor McAuley landing the opening point of the encounter.

However, a few other chances to add to their tally weren't converted and Irvinestown began to work their way into the tie.

Irvinestown got off the mark through a point from Ronan Ormsby and the full forward was to be a real thorn in the side for Belnaleck throughout the first half.

Indeed, Ormsby was unfortunate to see a goal attempt come back off the underside of the crossbar although he did rattle over a good point to edge the St. Molaise ahead.

Bryan Owens clipped over an equaliser for Belnaleck in the 17th minute but this was their last score of the half with the Art McMurroughs looking jittery in possession and Irvinestown showing greater composure on the ball as they accounted for the next four points.

A tidy point from Gary Maguire put Irvinestown back in front before Ormsby added a point from a free and another from play to make it 0-05 to 0-02.

And Maguire drilled over a 45 with the last kick of the half to put Irvinestown into a four point half time lead.

Belnaleck needed a strong start to the second half and that is exactly what they got as they quickly made inroads into the Irvinestown advantage.

Darragh McGurn nailed a free from the right and then fired over a point from play to close the gap to two points and all of a sudden the momentum was with Belnaleck.

Colm Bradley's side were beginning to impose themselves on the contest and their greater physicality was starting to tell with the Cullen twins, Che and Lee, growing influences on the tie.

Owens made it a one point game with a good score and soon after McAuley levelled things at 0-06 apiece.

Irvinestown got their noses back in front through a Maguire free but Belnaleck were now on top and McBrien tied things up with a point from play after McAuley had forced a turn over and when McAuley then swung over a point from the right hand side it put Belnaleck into a 0-08 to 0-07 lead.

Sean Lewsley got in on the scoring act with a point as Belnaleck moved two in front although Ormsby kept Irvinestown in touch with a pointed free.

With the game inside the final five minute though it was Belnaleck who pushed on for the win and substitute Quigley was to make a big impact.

His first touch resulted in him firing over the bar and his second was the goal, latching on to a long ball from a free and neatly tucking the ball to the net to make it 1-10 to 0-08.

And Belnaleck went on to wrap things up as Che Cullen and Mark Gallagher added on late points as they eventually ran out 1-12 to 0-08 victors.