For the 3rd time this season Aghaloo find themselves only an hour away from Intermediate football after they defeated Glenelly in a cracking D3 Promotion playoff at Beragh on Sunday afternoon.

It was a superb encounter from start to finish that was played at championship intensity. Niall McElroy opened the scoring after only 15 seconds before

Glenelly responded with points from Ronan O Kane and Cormac McBride. That was the only time that Glenelly would lead in the contest as the outstanding McElroy bagged a brilliant individual goal in the 5th minute. Rory Kennedy and Oscar O Neill helped level matters for Glenelly but they were indebted to keeper Conor McAneney for a brilliant double save to deny McElroy and Tiarnan Donnelly.

In the 14th minute Aghaloo defender Gary O Gorman found the net before McElroy and Donnelly tagged on points. In first half injury time a long ball from Donnelly picked out McElroy who scored his second goal of the afternoon and while Glenelly had the final say of the half from a McCullagh free they had it all to do in the second period as they trailed 3-4 to 0-6.

Eoghan McConnell and Donnelly swapped points on the restart as did McBride and Jody McGlone before Glenelly struck for 2 goals in a three minute spell. Cathal O Neill netted the first one in the 37th minute and that was quickly followed by another major from O Kane.

Only the minimum separated the sides at this stage but the impressive Conor Mullen then got a much needed point for Aghaloo and that was followed by one from Niall Henderson. With ten minutes to go Glenelly were dealt a blow when substitute Karl McCormack was straight red carded. Donnelly added a point before Aghaloo were reduced to fourteen men as well when McElroy got a second yellow card in the 57th minute.

Mullen fisted a point after good work from Stewart Douglas but that score was cancelled out by a McCullagh free. Deep into injury time Glenelly were awarded a penalty which McCullagh converted but that proved to be the last kick of the game as Aghaloo deservedly set up a winner takes all playoff with Cookstown next weekend.