Laragh United 1-11
Bailieborough 3-5

An injury-time point from Eoghan Cooney denied Bailieborough and saved Laragh United a second bite at the cherry in tonight’s intermediate championship quarter-final in Kingscourt.

Having recovered from a nightmare start to the second-half, Rory Farrell’s late goal looked like providing the upset for the Shamrocks but Cooney came up with the goods at the other end in the dying seconds to ensure that one of the competition’s remain firmly in the mix.

Bailieborough had made the dream start to this topsy-turvy clash, blasting to their Stradone counterparts’ net in the opening minute through Luke Gilsenan and the same man would raise a second green flag 11 minutes later to leave the scoreboard reading 2-2 to 0-2.

The script looked torn up but, crucially, Jody Devine’s team never panicked and rattled off the next six points without response via Paddy Rudden (3), Jack McKenna (2) and 'keeper Fergal O’Rourke (45) to make up the difference by the break.

Farrell (free) and Rudden traded points early in the restart and on 38 minutes the superb McKenna gave Laragh their first lead with a well-taken goal, swinging the pendulum well in favour of the men donned in orange.

A brace of Rhys Clarke points helped wipe away some of the damage for Bailieborough and despite their opponents getting a point from Pauric Reilly they looked to be on their way through to the semis after Farrell’s fortuitous strike from all of 45 metres.

The town side did their utmost to hang on for the upset but Cooney somehow found the time and space to square things up three minutes after the hour, meaning these sides must meet again to see who goes through to the last four.

Meanwhile in Bawnboy, Butlersbridge shocked former champions Arva with a 1-13 to 0-14 victory at St Aidan’s Park.

The Bridge had led by 1-6 to 0-5 at the half and were able to see out their triumph despite points from Brian Ellis, Shane Hamilton and Paul Cassidy putting the heat on them right to the finish.

Tweet

Most Read Stories