Irvinestown 0-10 Lisnaskea 0-09

Irvinestown progressed to the Intermediate Football Championship semi-final at the second time of asking as they shaded their replay against Lisnaskea - the St. Molaise having one point to spare at the final whistle.

There was little between the sides throughout the contest but Irvinestown did enough to take their place in the last four.

The sides were locked together at 0-08 apiece in the final quarter but points from Kevin Duffy and Gary Maguire pushed Irvinestown two ahead and although Sean Keenan closed the gap to the minimum, Irvinestown were able to see out the remainder of the contest to set up a semi-final showdown with Erne Gaels.

Irvinestown manager Lawrence Largo Elis felt his side produced a better performance than in the drawn game.

“The boys weren’t happy with their performance the first day and they wanted to put that right.

“I thought that our physicality and our mental strength went a long way to helping us to win that game,” said Largo Elis.

“I think having won this game, the shackles are now off and we can go and enjoy our championship football,” he added.

Josh Largo Elis had opened the scoring for Irvinestown in the second minute with a good effort from distance but Lisnaskea replied with midfielder Joe McDade landing a good score.

The sides traded scores throughout the first half and were level on four occasions.

Gary Maguire put the St. Molaise into a 0-02 to 0-01 lead Keenan answered from a free while he also saw another effort bounce off the crossbar.

It was Lisnaskea who took the lead in at the water-break as Keenan played a short free to Justy McDade and after receiving the ball back he planted it over the bar to leave it 0-02 apiece at the end of the first quarter.

Irvinestown were next to be denied by the woodwork as John McElhill saw his shot come back off the post only to be gathered on the line and cleared by Lisnaskea but the sides were level for a third time when Maguire tapped over a close in free before he put his side back ahead with a long range free.

Eoin McCabe answered with a point for Lisnaskea but Irvinestown regained the lead through a Kevin McDonnell point after good work by Jack Largo Elis to leave it 0-05 to 0-04 at the break.

A Keenan free on the restart levelled things up once more but Irvinestown went down the other end to again edge in front. Josh Largo Elis teed up Kevin Duffy for a goal chance but although his effort was blocked the ball rebounded out to Maguire who fired over soccer style.

And the lead was out to two points for the first time in the game as Maguire popped over after linking up with Josh Largo Elis to make it 0-07 to 0-05.

The Emmetts responded well though and McCabe fired over before Joe McDade drilled over a superb point from the right hand side to leave it 0-07 to 0-07.

It was Irvinestown though who were back ahead by the water-break as Duffy clipped over a good score.

Lisnaskea suffered a big blow with the loss of Joe McDade to injury but a Daniel Kille free had the sides all square once more in the 48th minute.

Another fine Duffy point though put Irvinestown into a 0-09 to 0-08 lead and a well struck Maguire free put two in it.

Lisnaskea kept battling and Keenan brought it back to a one point game in added on time but Irvinestown were able to keep possession to close out the game as they moved into the semi-finals.