Bornacoola sprang a surprise with a 2-09 to 1-10 victory over a fancied Kiltubrid side, in this Smith Monumentals Intermediate Football Championship clash at the Bornacoola GAA grounds.

Kiltubrid came into this clash as Division 3 league champions against a home side who had struggled in the league, and the visitors were expected to win this contest, but the Bors had other ideas.

Seamus Mallon's charges surged to a 1-02 to no-score lead after just eight minutes.

Bors keeper Daniel Farrell opened the scoring with a long range free in the fifth minute, and two minutes later, Mervyn Howard drilled the ball to the back of the Kiltubrid net, while Damien Moran slotted over a fine point from play to give the home side a five point cushion.

Ciaran McTeague's men finally got their act together to register the next four scores to leave just a point between the teams by the 14th minute.

Captain, Michael McCormack, Danny McWeeney, and a brace from Barry McWeeney (one free) all converted to bring Kiltubrid back into the match.

Bornacoola responded with the last three scores of the first half, as Ronan Mulligan fired over twice (one free), and Damien Moran added the last score of the half as the home side went in at the break leading by 1-05 to 0-04.

The visitors got off to a brilliant start upon the resumption, as Danny McWeeney blasted a brilliant low, diagonal shot to to the bottom right corner of the Bornacoola net in the first minute, reducing the arrears to just a point.

Damien Moran with a free and Barry McWeeney then swapped points for each side.

Substitute Emmet Mahon was superb when introduced and he was at the heart of Kiltubrid's attacking play, levelling the contest with an excellent 38th minute score.

Kiltubrid then went three points clear on 48 minutes with scores from the McWeeney brothers. Barry slotted over two points with Danny adding the other point, all from play.

Bornacoola rallied with a goal and a point to retake the lead. Sean McKeon fired over his first point in the 50th minute before Damien Moran raised the green flag at the second attempt in the 53rd minute.

Moran's first effort was brilliantly saved by Kiltubrid keeper Noel Gill, but the ball came back out to Moran and he blasted home the rebound.

The Bors one point lead didn't seem to be enough when midfielder Liam Jones was black-carded on 57 minutes, especially when a minute later, Kiltubrid keeper Noel Gill split the uprights with a forty-five to draw the sides level.

However, resilient, resolute defending kept the visitors at bay, and late, late points from Sean McKeon and Ollie Vaughan edged Bornacoola home by a two point margin, as it finished Bornacoola 2-09 Kiltubrid 1-10.

Match commentary was kindly sponsored by Carmel Murphy of HR Solutions.