Kinawley 4-17 v Devenish 1-17

Kinawley claimed the Fermanagh Intermediate Championship title with a star- studded four-goal show against Devenish at St Patricks Park, Tempo on Sunday evening.

The Brian Borus get back up to Senior football Championship football at the first time of asking with goals coming at the right time for Shaun Doherty’s side.

Tiarnan McKenna hit the opening goal of the game on four minutes and with that Kinawley went in at the break leading 1-10 to 0-8.

The second half was only 14 seconds old as Ruairi Corrigan found space to perfectly roll the ball to the net before he once again grabbed a further goal on 51 minutes with a dancing move that Devenish couldn’t stop.

Substitute Matthew Ferguson chipped in with a late goal on 63 minutes, to put the icing on the cake as Kinawley claimed a first IFC title since 2019.

Both these sides topped their respective Groups and claimed Semi Final wins over Derrylin and Tempo respectfully to deservedly be the last two left in the Intermediate Championship.

Kinawley started much the better against favourites Devenish with the opening score of the game coming from a brilliant team move that seen Tiarnan McKenna rifle the ball to the net on four minutes to give his side the most perfect of starts.

Donnacha Morris, Dara Cathcart and Paul Breen added further scores before a two-pointer free from Tiarnan McKenna left it 1-5 to 0-0 with Devenish shell-shocked.

A Fionan O’Brien free on 13 minutes finally got John McNulty’s side on the scoreboard, while Dara Cathcart and Terry O’Flanagan traded points.

Fionan O’Brien hit his sides first score from play on 17 minutes, 1-6 to 0-3, while Tiarnan McKenna and Jarlath O’Brien hit further scores, 1-7 to 0-4.

Tiarnan McKenna was finding his groove, and he pointed from a free before pointing from play to leave it 1-9 to 0-4, however a two pointer from Conall Maguire and a single from Jamie Flanagan reduced the deficit to five on 23 minutes.

Tomas Cathcart would find his range on 27 minutes before Cian O’Brien pointed on 29 minutes to leave it 1-10 to 0-8 at the break.

Kinawley would start the second half in whirlwind fashion as right from the throw in Ruairi Corrigan worked his magic to find space to perfectly place the ball to the back of the net and suddenly a five-point margin was stretched out to eight just 14 seconds into the second half.

Devenish responded confidently though as Jarlath O’Brien hit a two pointer before Fionan O’Brien did likewise on 38 minutes to leave it 2-10 to 0-12.

Ruairi Corrigan and Dara Cathcart though were both accurate to leave it back to a six-point game as Doherty’s side hit back.

Daniel McGovern would hit a third Devenish two pointer in a row on 41 minutes to leave it 2-12 to 0-14 as the game was on a knife edge with 19 minutes to play.

Back came Kinawley in a high scoring clash as a Tomas Cathcart free was followed by a Tiarnan McKenna free as six points separated the sides again, 2-14 to 0-14.

Fionan O’Brien would pick up a black card on 46 minutes which would seriously dent Devenish’s chances and Tiarnan McKenna made it a seven-point game.

Daniel McGovern would hit a two pointed free, but Kinawley and Ruairi Corrigan went further clear as the ex-Fermanagh ace danced his way through the Devenish defence before hitting his sides third goal on 51 minutes, 3-15 to 0-16.

Tiarnan McKenna struck a further point before Paul Breen pointed as Fionan O’Brien returned to the action, 3-17 to 0-16.

Jamie Flanagan hit a point, and Cian O’Brien hit a goal for Devenish but with four added minutes to play it was clear time wasn’t on John McNulty’s charges side as Kinawley led 3-17 to 1-17.

Deep into the additional time substitute Matthew Ferguson found space to see his shot hit the back of the net and suddenly nine points separated the teams and Kinawley knew victory was close.

Kinawley the deserved winners here, as the adage says goals win games.

Devenish were slow to start and were unable to put a stop to the class of Tiarnan McKenna and Ruairi Corrigan.

Kinawley now go into the Ulster Club IFC Quarter Final with a home clash against Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin of Donegal.