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.

Sharpshooter Conor Gaffney scored 10 points (seven frees) as Drumreilly picked up their first win of the Smith Monumentals Intermediate Championship with a four point win at home to Aughavas. 

This entertaining encounter was an open, attacking game of football with some fantastic points from both sides. In a tight opening half with very little between the sides. They were level on three different occasions.

Sweeney opened the scoring for his side in the second minute when he pointed over a free but Gaffney opened his account three minutes later to draw his side leve.

Niall McCabe scored a fine goal in the sixth minute to give his side an early three point lead. Two points from Gaffney (one free) cut the gap to just one in the ninth minute.

The sides were level for the second time in the 16th minute before Sweeney edged Aughavas back in front two minutes later. An excellent Eoin Kenny point put them ahead by two in the 22nd minute.

James Holohan and Nigel Maguire levelled matters in the 29th minute but a fantastic point from Sweeney in stoppage time gave the visitors a narrow one point lead going in at the break - 0-07 to 1-06.

A pointed Gaffney free had the sides level in the 31st minute. A superb point from the corner forward minutes later put Drumreilly in front by two. Sweeney (free) and Gaffney traded scores before McCabe cut the deficit to one in the 40th minute.

Both sides had chances before Declan Maxwell put Drumreilly ahead by two in the 48 minutes. Minutes later the lead was four with points from Gaffney (another free) and a good point from Maguire. 

James Holohan laid the ball off to Gaffney in the 55th minute, he was hauled down as he raced through and pointed over the subsequent free. Down the other end Sweeney kept his side in the game when he hit over another free

As the clock ticked down the visitors pushed forward but Drumreilly defended superbly with James Holohan back on a number of occasions to win vital possession.