Three battle for two places as Ballinaglera, Gortletteragh & St Mary's confirmed for Smith Monumentals IFC relegation battle

Three into two won't go is the conumdrum for the final round of the Smith Monumentals Intermediate Championship after a dramatic third round on Saturday saw Ballinaglera, Gortletteragh and St Mary's Kiltoghert consigned to the relegation playoffs with one from Carrigallen, Kiltubrid and Bornacoola to join them.

Undefeated Allen Gaels and Drumkeerin maintained their 100% record in the competition with contrasting victories, booking their places in the knockout stages and leaving them on the edge of an automatic semi-final spot while wins for Annaduff and St Patrick's Dromahair over relegation playoff bound Ballinaglera and Gortletteragh also secured them their knockout spots.

Favourites Allen Gaels accounted for their neighbours Kiltubrid with some ease, a 6-12 to 0-6 victory in Pairc Cil Tiobraid leaving them with an incredible scoring difference of plus 60 after three games. The Drumshanbo men will face one from Carrigallen, Ballinaglera and St Patrick's Dromahair at home in the final round.

Drumkeerin had a scare away to St Mary's Kiltoghert, needing a late goal to snatch a 2-10 to 2-8 victory over the Carrick men. Mary's second string led for much of the contest before the late goal kept Drumkeerin's record intact. Drumkeerin now face either Carrigallen or Dromahair in the final round with St Mary's on the road to Gortletteragh or Annaduff.

Dromahair, who lie in third place thanks to a superior scoring difference of plus ten to Annaduff's nine points, secured a hard fought home win over Gortletteragh, their 0-16 to 1-10 victory over a Gortletteragh side who were playing in the senior championship last year and now find themselves on the brink of dropping to the Junior grade. Dromahair can one from Drumkeerin, Bornacoola and Allen Gaels in the final round while Gortletteragh can face one from St Mary's, Ballinaglera and Kiltubrid.

Annaduff weathered both the weather and a tough Ballinaglera challenge to emerge with a 1-8 to 0-8 victory in St Hugh's Park in Ballinaglera. A Kyle Russell goal just before halftime was crucial and they could even see Alan Glancy drive a second half penalty over the crossbar as they held on the victory. Annaduff will now meet either St Mary's or Kiltubrid in the final round with Ballinaglera taking on one from Bornacoola, Gortletteragh or Allen Gaels.

Carrigallen won a huge victory that could be enough to keep them in the Intermediate ranks for 2026 and put them into the quarter-finals when they prevailed at home over Bornacoola on a 0-16 to 1-10 scoreline. That result puts them two points clear of both Kiltubrid and Bornacoola with a final round match against either Drumkeerin or Allen Gaels to come.

Bornacoola will either St Patrick's Dromahair or Ballinaglera in the final round so it could come down to scoring difference if all three teams end up on four points, with Kiltubrid's scoring difference taking a bit hit thanks to their 24 point defeat at the hands of Allen Gaels. If Carrigallen and Bornacoola finish level, Carrigallen have the head to head result