Irvinestown 0-09 Lisnaskea 2-06

Two Tom Clarke goals saw Lisnaskea Emmetts claim a second championship title in as many years with a three-point win over Irvinestown in the Intermediate final on Saturday.

Goals in the 24th minute and on the stroke of halftime saw the Emmets take a seven-point lead into the break and despite a late Irvinestown penalty they held on to make their return to the Senior Championship next year.

Saturday was just Irvinestown’s second defeat all year and their second in Brewster Park after being pipped to the Division Two title by Teemore in August.

Mattie McDermott kicked the St Molaises side into the lead with just two minutes gone as he found space to curl over the bar off the right foot.

He then went close to the game’s first goal as he was released by Josh Largo Elis but the forward’s driven shot cannoned back off the crossbar to the gasps of the Lisnaskea spectators.

At the other end, Hayden Lynch got his side off the mark when he converted a free just seconds later. Damien Og Kelly picked up possession and went on a run inside before sending over a second Skea point.

It was met with another quick response as Largo Elis ran off Conor O’Hanlon’s shoulder and sent a rising shot into the clouds that dropped over the bar to tie the game with less than ten minutes gone.

The game went without a score for almost 15 minutes as both sides hit wides while Skea goalkeeper Ethan McCaffrey was called into action to punch away an O’Hanlon dropped shot as Ronan Ormsby then grabbed the ball and swivelled but his shot at goal sailed wide.

John Reihill’s side hit back with a goal a minute later as Clarke found Og Kelly and continued his run to get the ball back before staying composed to slot home and make it 1-02 to 0-02.

McCaffrey added from a free off the ground shortly after and he was again forced into punching a high ball away from his own goal, this time from Ormsby.

In the first minute of added time in the first-half, Dylan Tierney cut inside and his kick dropped in towards the square and again it was Clarke who got a fist on the ball as it skipped past goalkeeper Shea Mulligan.

The Emmetts took a 2-03 to 0-02 lead into the changing rooms. Gary Maguire kicked a free off the grass in the opening seconds of the second half but Lisnaskea restored their seven-point advantage as Lynch’s dropped shot was punched out to Conor Clarke and he blasted over from close range.

Tierney again skipped inside as space opened up in front of him to pop over a fifth Skea point.

A strong run from Tom Clarke down the centre of the field opened up room for Mark Little to find himself all alone and the 43-year-old calmly lifted his shot between the posts, 2-06 to 0-03.

It would be Skea’s final score as they spent the remaining 20 minutes protecting their lead.

McCaffrey dealt with another high ball into the square and Joe McDade cut out a swift Irvinestown attack as Shane McDermott’s men began to increase the pressure.

Mattie McDermott ended a barren run of no reply as he kicked an impressive point from range.

Maguire sent over another free and also sliced an effort wide on the half volley.

Mulligan came up from the back to point from a free and Jarlath Maguire ran towards goal from an angle before drilling an effort over, 2-06 to 0-07.

Kevin McDonnell got in behind, in injury time, but he was judged to have been fouled when shooting and a penalty was awarded.

Barry Goodwin stepped up but skied his shot over the bar, 2-06 to 0-08. McDermott kicked over a free in the final minute, but the final whistle sounded and Lisnaskea celebrated another piece of silverware after last year’s Junior title.