Champions St Mary's suffer first loss but still go into semi-finals with Mohill as quarter-finals leave intriguing draw

Mohill inflicted a first defeat of the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC on defending champions St Mary's Kiltoghert in Philly McGuinness Park with both teams qualifying directly for the semi-final stages on a dramatic final night of the group stages that sets up some intriguing quarter-final clashes next weekend.

Leitrim Gaels, who defeated Glencar Manorhamilton 2-9 to 1-9, to finished in fourth place in the table will meet a Fenagh St Caillins team in the quarter-finals, the League champions securing their quarter-final spot after they handed neighbours Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins a 1-17 to 1-11 defeat, having led by seven points at halftime.

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins will meet Glencar Manorhamilton in the other quarter-final, both games due to be played next week with Mohill and St Mary's Kiltoghert facing the winners of the resulting games in the semi-finals, the top two kept apart in the draw.

Time to finally see the light

By John Connolly

Mohill are the only unbeaten team in the group stages with wins over St Mary's Kiltoghert, Glencar Manorhamilton and St Patrick's Dromahair and they showed all of their old spirit as they came from three points down to win 1-11 to 0-11. Incredibly, Mohill went 21 minutes without a score midway through this game but St Mary's had no answer in the final quarter as they failed to score for the final 21 minutes plus of the contest.

Aughawillan made a valiant attempt to stave off their relegation battle with a hard fought 6-12 to 2-11 victory over Gortletteragh, a result that moved them level with Glencar Manorhamilton in the table but their scoring difference, having drawn with the north Leitrim men and losing to St Mary's Kiltoghert and Ballinamore, left them nine points in arrears of a Glencar Manor side who beat Dromahair and lost to Mohill.

St Patrick's Dromahair scored their first win of the campaign when they ended Aughnasheelin's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. With Glencar Manorhamilton losing, a win would have seen last year's Intermediate champions into the knockout stages but despite leading by a point at halftime, Dromahair finished strongest in Aughnasheelin to claim a 0-9 to 0-6 victory.

Ironically, both relegation semi-finals will be repeats of the last round with Aughawillan taking on Gortletteragh while St Patrick's Dromahair face Aughnasheelin, both games taking place at neutral venues.

Leitrim CCC will fix the dates and times for the quarter-finals with both games expected to be played in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada next weekend.