Lisnaskea 1-11 St. Patrick's 1-10

A last minute Daniel Kille free kick was enough to get his Linsaskea over the line in the Intermediate relegation playoff and ensure their place in the competition for 2021.

In what was a nip and tuck game throughout, it was the coolness of Kille that was the difference right at the very end.

For ‘Skea boss, Peter Clarke, despite the concession of an early goal he was delighted with the performances of a number of his players such as Kille, Tomas Clarke, Aaron McCabe and Mark Kelly and sub Stephen Carters.

“It’s good to see the boys showing the necessary character, togetherness and composure to win a very tight, high stakes championship match. The goal was to stay in the Intermediate and the pressure is now off and there is no pressure to rally the players to play another game.”

A scrappy opening to the game saw a missed frees and misplaced passes before Skea keeper Aidan Keenan came up to fire over a 45 to put his side into the lead after five minutes.

Donagh went up the field and had goal chance from a quick free but it was blocked and went out for a 45, which ended up in a goal.

The ball dropping in the square and Jimmy Tormey getting his hand to the ball to palm to the net.

Chances were missed at both ends before Kille hit a free to reduce the gap to one but Eoghan Currna hit a fine score in response for Donagh.

Skea responded immediately with a goal of their own working their way down from the kick out and a cross field ball from Tomas Clarke was fired to the net by Eoin McCabe, 1-02 to 1-01.

The sides traded points before Skea took control of the game and moved into a three point lead at half time.

Clarke pointed from distance following a Skea turnover and two Mark Kelly points ensured that Peter Clarke’s charges went in at the lead on a scoreline of 1-06 to 1-03.

Donagh came out fighting in the second and hit four unanswered points to move into a one point lead lead.

Brian McDermott converted a mark before Eamon Maguire tried an audacious shot at goal after Donagh turned over Skea high up the pitch, the ball just going the wrong side of the post.

McDermott got his second, a fine score from play to cut the gap to one with only a couple minutes of the half played.

Donagh were putting the pressure on and they hit another two scores with Paul Óg O’Reilly driving from centre back to claim one of them to move into the lead for the first time since their early goal.

From then to the final whistle there was little to separate the sides. Whenever one looked like pulling away they were dragged back in.

Donagh stalwart Eamon Maguire led the way for his side while at the other end, Kille was as accurate as ever from placed balls with Clarke also on target from play to grab his second of the day.

It looked as if the sides would be able to be separated but as the game drew to a close one final attack from Skea ended in the referee signalling for a free in after Mark Kelly was caught high by Rian Daly.

Up stepped Kille who 21 yards out and he made no mistake. Skea had chances to increase their lead but they didn’t need as they held on for the victory and their place in the 2021 Intermediate Championship.

Donagh will have to pick themselves up and and do it all again when they face Irvinestown in the relegation play-off final to decide who will be playing their football in the Junior Championship next season.