We’re down to the final four in the Intermediate Championship, with a place in the final up for grabs this weekend.
Pearse Og v St Peter’s – Saturday 5 – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds – 5pm
Going by the placings in the league teams, Pearse Og and St Peter’s are the two best teams in the competition. The Ogs won the league titles, gaining promotion back to senior football, finishing one-point above St Peter’s.
They have already played out two league games this season, with each side earning one win over the other. Three late goals helped St Peter’s defeat the Ogs in the first meeting before the city side reversed the result in the next fixture.
Damien Feeney’s Ogs came through their quarter-final tie with Derrynoose by the minimum of margins. Ruairi Duffy nailed a goal the last day out and top scored for the Ogs with 1-3 on the day.
St Peter’s had a much more comfortable victory on their way to the last four, hammering Shane O’Neill’s. They had six different goal scorers on the night, with Niall McConville, Conan Moore, Oisin Haughey and Patrick McGibbon hitting the net.
Keady v St Paul’s – Sunday 4 – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds – 4pm
St Paul’s and Keady both came through tough battles in the quarter-finals, and both scraped through by the skin of their teeth. Keady beat Belleek by one-point while St Paul’s enjoyed the same margin of victory against Whitecross, after extra time.
Having both competed in the Division 2A league, Keady and St Paul’s came up against each other twice, grabbing a win over each other. 2023 was their last championship meeting, when St Paul’s came through that semi-final encounter.
The Lurgan side are aiming to make the Intermediate Championship final for the sixth time in seven seasons. They haven’t yet to get over the line in the decider, but will be keen to at least get back to that stage.
Keady haven’t reached the final of the Intermediate Championship since 1995, the last time they won the title. They did however compete in the Junior Championship decider as recently as 2018.
