Horeswood overcame a stern challenge from 14-man St. Mary’s-Maudlintown to prevail by 0-12 to 0-7 in Saturday’s first-round Amber Springs & Ashdown Park county intermediate football championship encounter at St. Patrick’s Park.

The Group A tie represented Horeswood’s first game in the second-tier since 1998 having suffered relegation last year after capturing the senior championship crown in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2011.

A Maudlintown side well fancied to also make a strong push for promotion were right in the mix on 0-7 apiece at half-time. But the Wexford town side had to play with a numerical disadvantage for the second-half, and it was something which Horeswood capitalised upon thanks to the aid of new signing Jamie Myler, who has transferred to bolster the Campile outfit from St. James’.

Elsewhere in Group A on Saturday, last year’s semi-finalists St. Mary’s-Rosslare drew 1-11 to 0-14 with 2016 and 2015 runners-up Bannow-Ballymitty.

On that same evening in Group B, the game between Adamstown and Ballyhogue was postponed, while last year’s beaten finalists HWH-Bunclody let an early 1-4 to 0-1 lead slip as Duffry Rovers fought back to draw 1-9 apiece at the ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Ferns. And, at St. Patrick’s Park, Ferns St. Aidan’s, semi-finalists for the last two years, scored an impressive 2-9 to 0-7 win over 2013 champions St. Fintan’s.

The first-round action in the intermediate championship is scheduled to be completed tomorrow (Sunday) when promoted Crossabeg-Ballymurn take on 2015 intermediate ‘A’ champions St. Joseph’s at the ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Ferns at 6p.m.