Kilconly and Oileáin Árann exit Galway Intermediate Football Championship

Meanwhile, the relegation semi-finals threw up two interesting results. The final game to determine who’ll drop to Primary Junior will be the same pairing that contested the intermediate final itself in 2020 – Cortoon Shamrocks versus Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

That game takes place on the week ending September 27, as does the four intermediate championship quarter-finals. Glenamaddy will clash with Caherlistrane, Mícheál Breathnach meet Menlough, St Brendan’s take on Oranmore-Maree, and St Michaels go face-to-face with An Spidéal – the latter a collision between last year’s relegated senior side and the 2025 finalists.

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Míchéal Breathnach 1-18

Kilconly 0-14

Mícheál Breathnach controlled this contest in Kenny Park on Saturday to advance to the final eight despite a dominant third quarter from their opponents.

Two two-pointers from Maidhc Mac Gearailt were instrumental in the Connemara side building a 0-6 to 0-2 advantage during the opening 15 minutes with Fionnán Ó Coisdealbha and Sean Denvir also on target.

Niall Daly, Kian Murphy, David Prendergast, and Mark Danaher (2) were Kilconly’s first-half scorers, but they found themselves 1-12 to 0-5 in arrears. Cillian Ó Curraoin raised another two orange flags for the leaders while Liam Mac Donnacha got the crucial goal on 26 minutes.

Kilconly came out after the restart and brought the deficit down to two. Prendergast got seven points with Cian Davin and Connor Dunleavy also converting to trail by just 1-13 to 0-14.

However, the two-time recent finalists couldn’t maintain that push as Mícheál Breathnach concluded with five unanswered scores, including three for Mac Donnacha, to set up their next test against Menlough.

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Glenamaddy 0-15

Corofin 0-9

Glenamaddy avenged their 23-point beating to the same opposition at this stage last year with a six-point victory in Tuam Stadium on Saturday.

Corofin took an early advantage with Gary Sice among the scorers, but they went 22 minutes without registering as Glenamaddy led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time.

Michael Heneghan and Ryan Duffy were prominent in giving Aidan Potter’s team their three-point lead, but last year’s semi-finalists rallied after the restart.

Sice, Cian Murphy (2) and Finn McIntyre were on target for Corofin to go 0-8 to 0-7 ahead by the 43rd minute but they only managed one more point.

Two-pointers from a Michael Fox free and Conor Raftery from play pushed Glenamaddy ahead, and even though Murphy responded with seven minutes remaining, the victors were charging towards the winning line.

Raftery, Heneghan and Evan Duffy were all on target to conclude Glenamaddy’s total and set up a quarter-final clash with Caherlistrane.

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An Spidéal 2-22

Oileáin Árann 1-9

An Spidéal made a statement of intent in Pearse Stadium on Sunday as last year’s runners-up showed no mercy to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Tyler Ó Flaithearta gave the Islanders the lead on two minutes, but they wouldn’t score again until two minutes before half-time.

Cillian and Antaine Ó Laoi, and Diarmuid Ó Duinn shared nine points for An Spidéal. Finnian Ó Laoi followed his own orange flag with a 14th minute goal, and they were 1-13 to 0-3 clear at half-time.

The west Galway men continued with two more points for Cormac Ó Laoi; and when Fionnán Ó Conchubhair got An Spidéal’s second green flag on 41 minutes, they led 2-18 to 0-3.

Oileáin Árann finished with a strong final quarter. Cillian Ó Conghaile, Ross Ó Dioráin and Ó Flaithearta all converted two-pointers before Rónán Ó Flatharta got their goal on 58 minutes.

But An Spidéal were through to a quarter-final against St Michael’s as Antaine Ó Laoi concluded with two scores.

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St Brendan's 2-16

Claregalway 1-10

St Brendan’s are back in the quarter-finals after running out comfortable nine-point winners in Kenny Park on Sunday, to set up a showdown with Oranmore-Maree.

Claregalway made the stronger start, leading 0-3 to 0-1 on six minutes with keeper Cillian Walsh, Mark Concannon, and Sean O’Callaghan on target.

St Brendan’s got into their rhythm to hit seven points through Harry Holmes, Paddy Downey (3), Cathal Maloney (2) and Karl Healy, before the latter’s goal on 28 minutes left it 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time – Walsh kicking a two-pointer for Claregalway.

Ben Morley brought the difference back to four upon the restart before St. Brendan’s substitute Niall Brannelly and Healy kicked two-pointers either side of Cian Downey’s 37th minute goal to go 2-14 to 0-7 clear.

The game fizzled out but Claregalway did add another 1-2. Shane Ó hEochagáin got a point after forcing a stop from keeper Shane Delaney; David McLaughlin registered their goal in the final minute, and O’Callaghan sent over a two-pointer.

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Relegation semi-finals

Clifden 1-15

Kilkerrin-Clonberne 1-14

Clifden overcame two black cards to launch a stunning comeback in Clonbur on Sunday to save their intermediate status.

Two Andrew Nee two-pointers built an early four-point lead before five Connor Rabbitte scores left Kilkerrin-Clonberne just 0-8 to 0-7 down at the break.

Marty and Enda Conneely both received 10-minute breaks as two Rabbitte orange flags and Cian Hynes’ penalty had Kilkerrin-Clonberne in control.

But with 14 men, 1-5 for Colm Coneys and Conall Joyce’s winning point gave Clifden the one-point victory.

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An Cheathrú Rua 1-16

Cortoon Shamrocks 0-14

The 2020 intermediate champions, Cortoon Shamrocks, face a final for survival after going down in Kenny Park on Sunday.

Three two-pointers from Alan Banks (2) and Joe Donnellan gave Shamrocks a head start and they led 0-11 to 1-5 at half-time.

Éanna Mac Cormaic got An Cheathru Rua’s goal while second-half orange flags for Padraic Mac Donnacha and Mac Cormaic put them four ahead.

It was 1-13 to 0-14 entering the closing moments before points for Mac Donnacha and Mac Cormaic kept the Gaeltacht men safe.