Tempo 0-17 Maguiresbridge 2-04

Tempo lifted themselves off the foot of Group A to snatch an intermediate quarter-final spot and send Maguiresbridge into the relegation game with a seven-point in Kinawley on Saturday.

A strong first-half from the Maguires saw them pick up a first championship win despite goals in either half from Dan Teague and Sean Porteous.

Tempo began the scoring with heavy rainfall and slippery conditions at Patrick McManus Park and Niall McElroy added a second point with Mark Hughes then responding with a free kick at the other in the opening few moments.

Tempo’s runners were causing issues for the ‘Bridge defence as Ryan Ingram found space to send over another shot.

Luca McCusker split the posts but again Tempo came forward with intent with Aidan Breen curling over a left-footed effort just inside the 45’.

Ryan Breen drove forward to point as well and McElroy converted a long-range free off the outside of the right boot.

Maguiresbridge got back into the game at the midway stage as Caolan Duffy beat his man on the 45’ and drove into acres of space towards goal before fisting across for Teague to palm into the net, 0-06 to 1-02.

Tempo took control of the half after that as the ‘Bridge failed to register another score before the break. Oisin Murphy found time on the ball to extend the lead and McElroy added another to his account.

After another couple of scores, Eunan McCann sent over another kick from distance on the stroke of halftime to make it 0-12 to 1-02 at halftime.

McCusker kicked the first score of the second half but that was followed by responses from Ingram and Ben Warnock. McCusker sent another kick over from the right wing as Sean Corrigan went close to a second goal when his shot was brilliantly stopped on the goal line by the retreating Ryan Breen, Teague was then shown a black card seconds later.

Tempo tagged on another point, but the ‘Bridge did find their second goal when goalkeeper Feidhlim O’Connor launched a high ball into the square as Fionn Nolan fisted across goal for Porteous to run onto and palm into the net.

Tempo would see out the game as Tiarnan Bogue and Warnock hit late points to seal the win.

Tempo joint manager Ryan Cassidy was pleased to see his side seal a route out of the group as they now face Derrylin in over a week’s time.

“It was a good win in difficult playing conditions,” said Cassidy. “We knew Maguiresbridge were going to be a difficult test as we’d seen how well they performed versus Belcoo. From our own perspective, we reacted well to the result the previous week.”

Meanwhile, Maguiresbridge manager Adrian Diver said: “We are obviously very disappointed to end up bottom of the table and having to face the relegation play-off, particularly after such a good start to the championship.

"But you get what you deserve in football and over the course of the championship we did not do enough to progress. In this game, Tempo were the better team and showed why they had such a good league campaign.

"Obviously, the relegation final is not where we wanted to be but that is where we are at and we need to accept that.

"St Pats will be tough opponents, they have already beaten us in the league this year and finished above us as well so they will be favourites but we will give it our all.”