Dominant Irvinestown march into Intermediate decider

A dominant first-half performance laid the foundation for Irvinestown as they booked their place in the Intermediate Championship Final.

Irvinestown were the better team throughout much of the context apart from a spell in the second-half when Belcoo rallied and managed to cut their lead to four points.

But scores from the impressive Gary Maguire ensured there were no late scares for Irvinestown who will face Lisnaskea in the Intermediate decider on Saturday week.

While Belcoo’s attack stuttered, Irvinestown’s was smooth and they found themselves seven points to the good midway through the first-half.

It was a lead Belcoo would never claw into as Conor O’Hanlon got the Naomh Molaise side up and running after four minutes with a fine score off the outside of his boot after turning over Belcoo ball.

Maguire curled over a difficult free before points in quick succession from Mattie McDermott and a Ronan Ormsby free made it 0-04 to no score after nine minutes.

Then Liam Murphy scored before Irvinestown scuppered a goal chance as the ball across the square was too high and then Joey Millar found himself in space in the Belcoo defence to slot over as the pace of Irvinestown was making them hard to live with.

Barry Goodwin then did well to win the ball in front of his man, jink to make space before pointing.

Belcoo had been guilty of some poor shooting but they finally got their account going.

A half goal chance was deflected out for a ’45 which was miskicked by Conor McAloon. But Eoin Corrigan gathered well before finding the Irvinestown net via the post.

Millar got his second point from play before Ciarán Flaherty launched over a free from distance for Belcoo.

But Irvinestown had the last say of the half and it was a killer blow to Belcoo’s hopes.

The ball was worked well up the field and John Doonan drove along the end line before squaring to Ormsby who finished to the net to leave it 1-08 to 1-01 at the break.

Maguire increased Irvinestown’s lead a minute after the restart with a fine score out on the left but it took 17 minutes before another score was registered.

Lawrence McKeown rifled over a fine point but again Maguire responded for Irvinestown.

Flaherty pointed from a ’45 and a free before Conor McAloon and Michael Burns fired over good scores to leave four points in it with four minutes to play.

But Maguire steading the Irvinestown ship and pointed from a free and then from play to secure a deserved six-point victory.