Noamh Fionnbarra 3-6

INJURY time points from Nigel Farrell and Barry Mulholland saw St Mochtas snatch victory over Nh Fionnbarra in a dramatic finish to this Intermediate Championship Group 3 encounter at Stabannon on Saturday evening.

In an entertaining game that was in the balance right up until the final whistle, the Louth Village side fought back from a seven-point deficit nine minutes into the second half before ensuring they got their campaign off to a winning start.

It was looking good for the Finbarrs at that stage but the game turned in a two-minute spell. Goals from Andy McCann and Darren McConnon within four minutes of the restart had put the Ballygassan side 3-4 to 0-6 in front and they looked certain to add another when Patrick Butterly sliced through the defence. However, his close-range shot was superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Conor Ryan and Darren McConnon was unable to force the rebound over the line.

Seconds later Darren McMahon sent in a testing long ball and Declan Byrne was on hand to flick the ball over the advancing keeper, Shane O’Brien, and into the net. It got even better for the Mochtas as Stephen McCooey picked up the kick-out and ran through the defence before planting the ball in the bottom corner to bring his team back to within a point at 3-4 to 2-6 with 40 minutes played.

Nigel Farrell levelled matters just before the end of the third quarter and at that stage the momentum was with the Mochtas, but they failed to take advantage of a number of chances and it wasn’t until the 52nd minute that they took the lead for the first time in the game through a well-taken Ultan Larney point.

The Finbarrs had been rocked by the concession of