Lisnaskea 3-10 Derrylin 1-08 

Lisnaskea confirmed their place in the next round of the Intermediate Championship with an impressive performance at home to last year’s finalists Derrylin.

Two first-half goals from Hayden Lynch and Dylan Tierney set them on the path to a deserved win while there were more injury concerns for the O’Connells with Jake Smith being withdrawn before halftime.

Diarmuid Owens kicked the opening score of the game at a sunny Emmet Park on Saturday and Smith then kicked over a free to open up a two-point lead after 11 minutes.

After a number of early wides, the Emmets eventually got off the mark when a ball in from Justin McDade was flicked on and into the net by Lynch.

Sean Keenan added a point before Kian Prior curled over a free from off the ground, 1-01 to 0-03. Damian Og Kelly went close to a second goal but his shot was stopped by the feet of the Derrylin goalkeeper.

Lisnaskea would find the second goal when Keenan’s ball towards goal fell into the path of corner-back Dylan Tierney who fired in a low shot to the net. Kian Prior and Owens tagged on points while key man Smith was stretchered off in between as the sides went into the changing rooms at 2-01 to 0-06.

Lynch landed an early second half point and Keenan also added after good play from Kelly to create space.

Derrylin found a way back into the game with just under ten minutes played in the second half when a high ball into the square resulted in substitute Donal McAvinue being dragged down and Luke Flanagan stepped up to despatch the spot kick into the top right corner.

Ruaidhri McGoldrick pointed in between scores from Kelly and Lynch. Kelly and Justin McDade both added points to stretch the Emmets lead and despite Derrylin applying pressure up the mark, the Emmets were happy to play on the counter as the pace of their forward line and transition play were causing all sorts of issues for the O’Connell’s as Kelly had a chance to seal it but again his low shot was saved.

Owens hit the side netting at the other end as McDade then went on a mazy run before splitting the posts.

Prior and substitute Ruairi Gribben traded points, 2-09 to 1-08. Kelly hit arguably the score of the day with an hour played as he latched onto a ball inside and used his pace and agility to weave past three men to create a yard and send over a right-footed shot from range.

The Emmets added the final blow in the last play of the game as the ball was worked into substitute Paul Mohan who drilled a shot into the bottom left corner to the sound of the final whistle. Lisnaskea manager John Reihill said after the game: “Delighted with the win against Derrylin an experienced first division team at this stage.

"Happy with the performance too as we felt we dominated throughout but lacked composure in front of goal. We had six wides before we scored and that puts you under a bit of pressure.

Derrylin, unfortunately, lost one of their key men when Jake Smith had to go off with what looked a serious injury. We wish him well.”

Derrylin boss Sean Donnelly said: “The better team won on the day. We were better in the second half, we lost Jake Smith in the first-half which didn’t help. But Lisnaskea were the better team and we couldn’t handle them in the second half.”