Irvinestown deservedly claimed the Kevin Courtney Car Sales & Services Intermediate Championship on Saturday night as they came back from conceding two early goals to finish up three point winners against Kinawley at Brewster Park.

Kinawley had made the perfect start to the encounter when the Corrigan brothers, Ruairi and Tomas, both found the back of the net inside the opening six minutes as they eased their way into a 2-02 to 0-01 lead.

Kinawley though were over-reliant on the Corrigans and they became more isolated as Irvinestown took a stranglehold on the game in the middle third where they were hoovering up the breaking ball. The Irvinestown forwards were giving the Kinawley defence plenty to think about with their pace and intelligent movement as the St. Molaise took over in all departments.

And when Daryl McNulty fired to the net in the 21st minute it saw the seven point deficit reduced to the minimum. Paul Courtney's Irvinestown side then pushed on in the final minutes of the half and by the break they had managed to carve open a two point lead, 1-09 to 2-04.

A second Irvinestown goal arrived three minutes into the second half from Conor McGuigan and this put them in firm control of matters with a five point advantage and although Kinawley responded to close back to within two points, Irvinestown, despite being reduced to 14 men following the sending off of Benny McCaffrey for a second yellow card, finished the stronger to take the title for the first time since 2004.

Kinawley were razor sharp in the opening stages of the contest and it was Tomas Corrigan who was to fire over the first score of the game when he dusted himself down after being fouled to convert a free.

Irvinestown responded instantly to this with a point from midfielder Kevin Duffy but the Brian Borus then swooped for the first goal of the game. Matthew Drumm's long free kick was smartly broken into the path of the on-rushing Ruairi Corrigan by Tomas Corrigan and the centre half forward dispatched his shot to the corner of the net.

And 60 second later Irvinestown suffered another hammer blow as Ruairi Corrigan this time turned provider as he drove through the Irvinestown defence before feeding Tomas who made no mistake in tucking the ball into the net from close range.

When Tomas Corrigan then landed a terrific sideline ball from the right hand side to make it 2-02 to 0-01, it appeared that Kinawley were cruising.

This was a disastrous start for Irvinestown but they gradually started to claw their way back into the game with Kevin Duffy putting in a good shift at midfield while Liam Murphy and Gary Maguire were beginning to get their hands on more ball.

Conor McGuigan drilled over a superb point from the right hand side and for the remaining 20 minutes of the half Irvinestown dominated.

Daryl McNulty watched one effort come back off the upright while they then had a good goal chance in the 13th minute.

Duffy picked out McGuigan with a great pass but his shot at goal was saved by Kinawley goalkeeper Darren Boyle and McNulty then poked the rebound narrowly wide of the post.

Ronan Ormsby and Tomas Corrigan traded frees but Irvinestown were continuing to press forward and Maguire and Ormsby tagged on further points to make it 2-03 to 0-05.

Irvinestown were looking threatening, the early ball to their full forward line causing problems for Kinawley, and they then struck for their first goal, a fine solo effort from McNulty.

The full forward gathered possession on the left and he slalomed his way past a number of challenges before planting his shot to the net to leave it a one point game.

The sides were level when Maguire clipped over a free and Irvinestown took the lead for the first time in the game when wing half back Kevin McDonnell surged forward after turning over the ball to score.

Kinawley by now were living on scraps but they equalised when Tomas Corrigan banged over a free, however, Irvinestown finished the half well and Kevin Duffy and Gary Maguire knocked over points to give them a two point advantage at the interval, 1-09 to 2-04.

Kinawley moved Niall Bogue out to centre half back from corner back for the second half as they attempted to get to grips with Maguire but three minutes after the resumption Irvinestown grabbed their second goal. Shane Goan, who had settled into the game after a difficult opening spell on Ruairi Corrigan, drove a long ball towards goal and McGuigan managed to get the first touch on the ball to flick it to the net as Irvinestown opened up a five point lead.

Tomas Corrigan registered another two points from frees to keep Kinawley in touch but Maguire fired over a free in reply for Irvinestown to leave them four ahead as the contest entered the final quarter.

At this point Kinawley manager Brian Treacy switched Shaun Doherty to midfield from full forward, where he had struggled to get into the game, and Doherty started to influence proceedings as Kinawley hit back.

Sean Hussey slotted over after being set up by Ruairi Corrigan and Corrigan then clipped over a splendid point from the left to leave only two points separating the sides.

The Brian Borus were enjoying a good spell and they went close to finding a third goal which would have turned the game back in their favour.

Niall Bogue landed a high ball in on top of the Irvinestown defence and Tomas Corrigan got a hand to it but his touch saw the ball brush the post before it was cleared.

However, the momentum looked to be swinging Kinawley's way when Irvinestown lost Benny McCaffrey after he picked up a second booking but Courtney's outfit redoubled their efforts and went on to regain the initiative in the final stages.

McGuigan edged them back three ahead following a great pass from Maguire and Maguire then nailed the insurance score with a well struck free off the ground to put foru between them.

Kinawley did push on and Drumm blazed over deeep in added on time but there was no denying Irvinestown who stood firm to secure a three point victory.

Scorers Irvinestown: G. Maguire (0-05, 3f), C. McGuigan (1-02), D. McNulty (1-00), K. Duffy (0-02), R. Ormsby (0-02, 1f), K. McDonnell (0-01).

Kinawley: T. Corrigan (1-06, 5f, 1sl), R. Corrigan (1-01), M. Drumm (0-01), S. Hussey (0-01).

Irvinestown J. Carleton; B. McCaffrey, T. Daly, D. Carleton; K. McDonnell, S. Goan, L. McQuaid; K. Duffy, S. Sheridan; L. Murphy, R. Ormsby, G. Maguire; J. Duffy, D. McNulty, C. McGuigan.

Subs - R. Goodwin for J.Duffy, F. Murphy for L. Murphy Kinawley D. Boyle; N. Bogue, G. McHugh, A. Murphy; B. Melanaphy, C. Murphy, C. Corrigan; M. Drumm, S. Leonard (Dubh); C. Melanaphy, R. Corrigan, S. Leonard (Rua); T. Corrigan, S. Doherty, D. Owens.

Subs - M. Cornyn for C. Corrigan, S. Hussey for D. Owens, K. Martin for McHugh.