Aghadrumsee 2-09 Newtownbutler 3-12

Newtownbutler may have run out six-point winners in Roslea on Sunday but this was an end-to-end and evenly matched Junior Championship quarter-final.

Aghadrumsee gave as good as they got for 55 minutes but substitute Donal McDaid hit a late goal to ensure Newtownbutler would head straight into the first semi-final to play Coa.

Conor Quinn hit the opening score of the game but that was soon cancelled out by Darren Kearns.

From the following kick-out, a loose kick fell straight to Eddie Courtney who played Aodhan Durnian and his shot found the roof of the net for the opening goal.

Enda McCabe added another point with Diarmuid King and Ger O’Keefe on target at the other end.

Martin O’Hara fired over a third Magpies point but Newtownbutler levelled the game as King was played in behind and he fisted across for Conor Courtney to palm into the goal after 26 minutes, 1-03 to 1-03.

King and Darren O’Hara traded scores with James Maguire then hitting the final point of the half for the Firsts, 1-05 to 1-04.

King extended the lead early in the second half with Courtney sending over a free to get Aghadrumsee off the mark.

Goalkeeper Ryan Carson was called into action as he made a big save to deny Daniel Crudden a goal. O’Keefe pointed in between an Aiden Bannon free and a McCabe point to make it 1-07 to 1-07.

A Kealan Fitzpatrick effort rattled off the top of the crossbar and King put Newtownbutler two points ahead at the midway stage of the second half.

Bannon and Fitzpatrick pointed again as Courtney then put Aghadrumsee in front when Damian McCarville had a shot saved and Newtownbutler lost the ball twice in a matter of seconds with Courtney picking up and finishing from a yard out.

However, the Firsts responded in the next play of the game. Jamie McCaffrey launched an effort from range and it dropped into the square with the break ball falling for Courtney to volley across goal into the net, 2-10 to 2-08.

Courtney and King exchanged points with Donal McDaid then putting the result beyond doubt as he palmed a high ball into the net.

The same man hit the final point of the game to wrap up the win. Aghadrumsee boss Jason O’Connor said after the game: “Look I thought the game was even enough, both sides had the spells of pressure, we missed three good goal chances in the second half and Newtown scored two goals which was the difference between the two sides on the day.

"We regroup now, put the heads down at training and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind about the character and ability of the boys and they'll come back stronger from this.”