Fox catapults Elphin into knockout stages and sends Faithleach's to relegation play-offs

Cillian Fox was the toast of Elphin on Saturday evening as his two-point free in injury time handed the 2024 intermediate champions a famous 0-16 to 0-15 victory at Orchard Park.

The dramatic ending propelled Elphin, who had hardly raised a gallop in their opening two games, into the knockout stages of the Hodson Bay Group Senior Football Championship and condemned last year’s beaten semi-finalists, St. Faithleach’s, to the relegation play-offs.

The stalemate in the other Group C game between Castlerea St. Kevin’s and Oran meant that Fox’s seismic intervention was the difference in the head-to-head stakes between the teams after they had finished with one win apiece on the table.

After Fox’s wonder-free, Diarmuid Murtagh still had the chance to win it for the visitors, but his two-point effort from a free dropped short and Stephen Sheeran’s side survived.

St. Faithleach’s had been 0-15 to 0-12 ahead but Frankie Cregg’s orange flag set up a grandstand finish.

The sides were tied three times in the opening period, but Elphin held a slender 0-8 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

Ian Bradley's charges looked to have the edge in the second half, thanks to points from Darren Nerney, Daniel McDermott, Ciaráin Murtagh and Jonathan Hussey.

But Elphin showed superb resilience on their home patch and they were rewarded when Fox landed the killer blow to transform his side’s championship and, in the process, end Faithleach’s hopes.

The winner from Cillian 🖤🧡

What a kick 👏 #rosgaa pic.twitter.com/XXB9fkWcWg

— Elphin GAA (@ElphinGAAClub) August 29, 2026

In O’Rourke Park, Castlerea St. Kevin’s and Oran played out an exciting 2-17 to 1-20 draw, meaning Pat Regan’s side finished top of the group, with Castlerea having to settle for the runners-up spot despite leading for most of the game.

A Darragh Walsh two-pointer left the visitors 0-3 to 0-2 ahead before Castlerea started to dominate.

John Curran pounced for a goal but the star of the show was his younger brother Dara who contributed 0-4 overall and gave the Oran defence a torrid evening.

The home side were 1-9 to 0-8 ahead at half time, and added to that buffer early in the second half. But Charlie Carthy’s goal brought Oran right back into proceedings before Castlerea replied instantly through Jonathan Hester.

Losing by seven points and staring at top spot in the group slipping through their fingers, Oran responded magnificently.

A flurry of scores that included two-pointers for Ciarán Lawless and Cormac Regan brought them level.

Seamus Hussey kicked a superb score to nudge Oran in front before Adam McDermott struck the equaliser to bring a thoroughly enjoyable game to a conclusion.

There was drama in Group B of the McNulty’s Furniture Intermediate Football Championship when a late St. Michael’s comeback almost denied Shannon Gaels a famous victory at Ardcarne Park.

Colm Kelly’s side did manage a fully deserved 2-13 to 2-12 triumph, but Michael’s late surge meant that Creggs, who dismantled Pádraig Pearses as expected, topped the group, Michael’s settled for second and Shannon Gaels finished third on scoring difference.

The visitors were excellent for 55 minutes and were 2-13 to 1-9 to the good with only four minutes remaining against a team that had lost their goalkeeper Shane O’Dowd to a black card.

But Michael’s, led by Fiachra Henry, came with a late surge. Ruadhan Henry added a single and a two-point free before older brother Fiachra brought his total to 2-6 for the evening with an opportunist goal.

St. Michael’s top scorer had given his side a dream start with a 11th minute goal but green flags for Evan Corcoran and Declan Kennedy left a well-drilled Shannon Gaels outfit very much in control.

At the end of the third quarter, they led by 2-12 to 1-5 and seemed destined to top the group, but even though they held on for the win, they were outscored by 1-7 to 0-1 in the final 12 minutes, which cost them a seeded placing in the quarter-finals.

In the other game, Creggs cruised to a 2-16 to 0-3 win against Pádraig Pearses.

First-half goals from Shane Dowd and Enda O’Roarke left Creggs 2-7 to 0-0 ahead at the break.

Darragh Colleran did manage to open Pearses’ account in the 35th minute but Creggs ran out comfortable 19-point winners — a victory that became all the more sweeter when news came through about the late drama in Cootehall.

*Reports from all four of Saturday's SFC and IFC games in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald.