Conor and Brian top men in Intermediate quarter finals

CONOR Ward from Rock and his half-back counter-part, Brian McLernon from Moortown, were the top performers as their respective clubs progressed to the Intermediate semi-finals.

The St Malachy’s scored an emphatic 0-16 to 1-5 win over Kildress, while Rock surprised Greencastle to run out 2-14 to 0-9 winners.

Peter Devlin was Moortown’s scorer in chief as they eased passed their Wolfe Tones opponents. He hit seven points from play and frees for the St Malachy’s. They led by 0-8 to 1-1 at half-time and kept the pressure going on the resumption.

Tarlach Quinn came close to grabbing a second goal for them early on the resumption, as substitute Con Heron came on and scored three points to complete the double-scores victory margin.

Greencastle’s Colin Touhey pulled off a number of great saves, but even he could do little as Rock’s Padraig Ward and Conor McCreesh both hit the net – one in the first half and then a second after the half-time break.

But it was the displays from Rock half-back Conor Ward and Brian McLernon for Moortown in their victory which really impressed. Both players led by example with surging runs which did much to seal wins for their respective teams, who now meet in the semi-final.

Meanwhile at Killyclogher on Saturday both Gortin and Owen Roes were successful in their respective quarter-finals to set up an all-North Tyrone clash in the last four.

County star Cathal McShane turned in a man of the match display, registering nine points- six from play- as Owen Roes overcame Clogher 0-16 to 1-9. The Glenmornan men held the slight edge leading 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, with Conor Shields hitting two points for the Eire Ogs.

However inspired by McShane and half back Conall McCormick, who struck four points from play, Owen Roes eased clear in the second period. Despite a late fisted goal from captain Barry McKenna Clogher couldn’t reel in the deficit.

Second half goals from Ciaran Brolly and Shane Clarke appeared to have set Gortin up for a comfortable victory over Beragh as the St Patrick’s surged eight points clear with just ten minutes remaining.

But with Oisin Donnelly spearheading a fine fightback the Red Knights roared back into contention in the closing stretch and in the end Gortin just clung on to prevail 2-10 to 0-14.