Enniskillen Gaels 5-17 Maguiresbridge 4-07

Enniskillen Gaels deservedly landed the Intermediate Championship title following a high scoring encounter against Maguiresbridge at Brewster Park this evening.

The Gaels, who were reduced to 14 men before the interval following the dismissal of full back Paddy Cassidy, were just too strong for a battling Maguiresbridge side as they claimed a 5-17 to 4-07 victory.

Both sides posed a goal threat on the night with four goals inside an entertaining opening quarter.

Gaels full forward Richie O'Callaghan was to the fore for his side in the opening period, palming home two goals while Dwayne Rice and Barry Flanagan netted for the 'Bridge to leave it 2-03 to 2-01 at the water break.

Enniskillen, who lost both Callum Jones and Joh  Reihill to early injuries, did appear to be taking control as Conall Quinn, O'Callaghan and the impressive Conor Love rattled over points but they were rocked back as Ryan Hyde drilled a low shot to the corner of the net to make it 2-06 to 3-01.

However, Enniskillen replied instantly as O'Callaghan teed up the excellent Beacom for a goal and when Timmy Boyd then followed up with two points it pushed the Gaels into a 3-08 to 3-01 lead.

Cassidy though was to get his marching orders in the 28th minute after a clash on the sideline and Maguiresbridge may have felt that the momentum was swinging they way as Danny Teague and Sean Corrigan arrowed over points.

But, Enniskillen answered with their fourth goal as Love raced on to a long ball and with the ball on the ground he brilliantly dinked it past James Hughes in the Maguiresbridge goal.

Still that wasn't the end of the goal drama in the first half as Ciaran Corrigan got in for Maguiresbridge but he was denied by a good save by Cian Newman as Enniskillen went in with a 4-08 to 3-03 advantage at the break.

The Gaels were always able to keep Maguiresbridge at arms length in the second half with the sides sharing the opening eight points.

Conor McShea, Love, Beacom and Quinn registered for the Gaels during this spell while Ciaran Corrigan, Matthew Teague (2) and Barry Flanagan answered for Maguiresbridge.

And, Enniskillen pushed on for victory as Love, Jonny Cassidy, Aaron Nolan and Beacom rattled over points to put them in a 4-16 to 3-07 lead with 56 minutes on the clock.

Maguiresbridge did bag a fourth goal through Sean Corrigan but this was just a consolation score and the Gaels wrapped things up with a late 1-01 from substitute Neil McDermott to seal a good night for the county club as they secured their return to senior football.

Scorers:

Enniskillen - R. O'Callaghan 2-02, E. Beacom 1-03, C. Love 1-03, N. McDermott 1-01, C. Quinn 0-03, T. Boyd 0-02, C. McShea 0-01, J. Cassidy 0-01, A. Nolan 0-01

Maguiresbridge - B. Flanagan 1-01, S. Corrigan 1-01, M. Teague 0-03, D. Rice 1-00, R. Hyde 1-00, D. Teague 0-01, C. Corrigan 0-01