It wasn’t pretty but Aughnasheelin made it three wins from three in the Leitrim Intermediate Championship when they got the better of their local rivals Drumreilly.

Fintan Fitzpatrick, who was a doubt before the game, scored 0-8 while Aaron Hoare and Sean McWeeney were excellent for the victors.

Aughnasheelin made a great start to the game, kicking over four points in a four. Joe Early got their first score in the fifth minute. Gavin Sammon and Darragh Gunn fired over points before Sammon scored a fantastic point in the eighth minute.

A free from Conor Gaffney in the 11th minute was the home side’s opening score. Hoare and a Sean McWeeney ‘45 in the 17th minute extended Aughnasheelin’s lead to five minutes. 

Drumreilly were right back in the game in the 19th minute when Declan Maxwell fired to the net. Mick Holohan cut the gap to one with a neat point before a Conor Gaffney free in the 27th minute drew the sides level.

Momentum was with Drumreilly and they took the lead for the first time in the first minute of stoppage time through Dermot Holohan. The lead only lasted less than 60 seconds; a fine Niall Gallagher point levelled matters and a Fintan Fitzpatrick free gave Terence Reynolds’ side a one point lead at the break. 

With the rain falling down it was a scrappy second half but Aughnasheelin controlled it. Fitzpatrick kicked over his second free in the 33rd minute. Ciaran Cullen got up to fire over a lovely point while Hoare got his second of the game in the 37th minute to put four between the sides.

The lead was six in the 42nd minute when Fitzpatrick kicked over another free. Dermot Holohan got Drumreilly’s first point of the second half in the 48th minute. They tried hard to get scores but Aughnasheelin’s defence stood firm.

Fitzpatrick hit over a free in the 52d minute to extend the lead to seven points. Gaffney replied with two points for the home side. Just before the end Fitzpatrick hit over a well worked score to leave seven between them at the end.