Drumlane edged themselves a step closer towards the quarter-finals of the intermediate championship yesterday evening with a 0-13 to 0-10 win over Cornafean in Ballyconnell.

Ryan Connolly struck an impressive 0-12 (10f) as the junior champions bounced back from their Round 2 loss to Ballinagh and picked up their second win of the campaign.

Connolly’s six first-half points surged the Sons of O’Connell towards a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at half-time and the advantage was out to three early in the restart before Cormac Cullen’s brace narrowed down the difference to the minimum.

However, Connolly shot three more placed balls from long distance in the closing 10 minutes to ensure the victory for Drumlane as they now look to overcome Ballymachugh on Friday night for an assured place in the last eight.

Earlier in the day, Butlersbridge showed no mercy to Killeshandra as it finished 2-18 to 0-5 in favour of the village side in Cornafean.

The victors’ scorching start saw them run up a 0-10 to 0-4 lead at the half against the Leaguers and two goals in first six minutes of the restart meant it was game, set and match.

That win moves the Bridge up to second in the table with a round remaining, trailing only neighbours Belturbet who scored an emphatic 2-17 to 0-8 win over bottom-placed Swanlinbar in Bawnboy on Friday night to seal their place in the draw for the last eight.

Elsewhere, Laragh United picked up their first win of the campaign by trashing Bailieborough on a 2-15 to 1-5 score-line in Kingscourt.

This one saw the Stradone men announcing their arrival in the Tommy Gilory Cup race as they flew out of the traps to lead by 0-8 to nothing before Ian Leddy slammed home their first goal on 11 minutes.

Jack McKenna raised the second green flag for Jody Devine’s team a minute before the break to leave it at 2-11 to 0-2 for the half, with the Shamrocks pulling back a consolation goal four minutes from the end.

Drumlane's Kian Monahan fields possession against Cornafean at First Ulsters Park, Ballyconnell

Arva handed Ballyhaise their first defeat with an impressive display on Friday night at Kingspan Breffni, where it finished 2-13 to 1-9 in favour of the Longford border men.

Martin Conaty’s penalty on the stroke of half-time saw Ballyhaise level (1-5 to 0-8) for the break but the 2016 champions kicked it up a gear after the restart.

Shane Hamilton and Peter Conneely fired points to steer them back in front before Conal Sheridan landed a superb goal and from there there’d only be one winner, as Ciaran Brady and Sheridan shot more points to secure the victory.

Ballinagh were equally as impressive the following evening at the same venue against Drumgoon, taking home the points via a 1-12 to 1-4 victory.

Kevin Smith’s goal nine minutes in paved the path to victory in this one, as his team went on to mount an unassailable 1-8 to 0-2 lead come half-time.

Two more from Smith and another from David Finnegan all but wrapped up the victory for Ballinagh in the third quarter, with Paddy Smith netting a goal late on to take some tarnish off for the Goonies.

Meanwhile in Virginia, Cuchulainns were 0-16 to 0-9 winners over Ballymachugh thanks to a superior second-half display at Dolan Park, where Evan Doughty and Bryan Magee came up big for the winners. 

Check out this weekend's upcoming club championship fixtures right here.

This weekends Club Results & Updated Championship Tables. Click link to website.......https://t.co/hw66wmBq3P pic.twitter.com/vwojSPBPg3

— Official Cavan GAA (@CavanCoBoardGaa) August 18, 2019

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