Second half goals from Jack Butterly and Hugh Osborne helped Nh Fionnbarra get their Intermediate Championship campaign off to the perfect start as they defeated St Kevins by 2-11 to 0-15 at Ardee on Saturday evening.

In what proved to be a highly entertaining encounter, the Barrs started well and kicked the first two points through William Woods. However, the Kevins took a grip of the game and with the help of points from Cian Callan, Patrick Clarke, Lee Crosbie and Shane Meade they opened up a four-point gap. Two points from Hugh Osborne just before the break cut the lead to 0-9 to 0-7 at half time.

The Kevins appeared to be on course for victory when Lee Crosbie (2) and Callan found the target within four minutes of the restart.

However, the Barrs responded in brilliant fashion and gave themselves hope with a goal from Jack Butterly before a second from Hugh Osborne on 47 minutes helped them move 2-10 to 0-12 clear. The Kevins fought back with scores from Callan (2) and Meade but an injury-time point from Woods settled the issue for the Barrs.

St Brides began their latest quest to claim a long-awaited championship title when they defeated Clan na Gael by 1-16 to 2-8 at Ardee on Saturday evening.

It was the Dundalk men who got off to the perfect start in this Intermediate Championship clash as Mark Newell found the net inside five minutes. However, Kevin Hearty took centre stage for the Brides as he fired over three points before slotting home a goal on 27 minutes to put the Knockbridge men into the lead. A Robbie Curran free just on the stroke of half time cut the gap to 1-5 to 1-4 at the break.

The Brides had the better of the game in the second half and despite missing a number of chances they eased into a 1-11 to 1-6 lead with four minutes to play as Paddy Reilly and Ciaran Deane were on target.

A goal from Billy Smith followed by a Curran free cut the deficit to just one point but they were unable to complete the comeback as the Brides hit five unanswered points through Sean Marry (2), Reilly, Sean Brennan and Andrew Smith to secure a deserved win.

Cooley Kickhams got their Intermediate Championship campaign off to a winning start when they defeated the reigning Junior champions, Glen Emmets, by 1-18 to 2-7 at St Brigid's Park.

The peninsula side were in blistering form in the first half and had scores on the board from Brian White, Emmet Rogan and Aoghan McGuinness before Rogan scored the first goal of the game. Points followed from Michael Rafferty, Ciaran Sheelan and Fearghal Malone to put 1-10 on the board before Ian Cusack opened the Glen Emmets account with a goal. At the interval Cooley were leading by 1-12 to 1-0.

The Tullyallen men rallied briefly at the start of the second half with Ronan Grufferty and James Butler among their scorers. However, Cooley were never in any danger and points from Peter Thornton and Ciaran Sheelan helped keep the scoreboard ticking over. Just before the end Ian Cusack got in for a second goal but it was little more than consolation as Cooley held out for a comfortable win.

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