All County Junior B Hurling Championship
All Saints 2-12 Michael Davitt’s 1-9
All Saints booked their place in final of the Junior B Hurling Championship when they beat Davitt’s by six points in Saturday evening’s semi-final at Tir na nÓg, Randalstown. Leading by four at the break (1-8 to 0-7) they kept their opponents at arm’s length during the second half. When Niall McGarry grabbed his team’s second goal going into injury time they were nine points clear and though Davitt’s came back with a late goal of their own it was a case of too little, too late as the Ballymena men had already secured a final place against St Agnes’ on Sunday next.
Star of the show for the Saints was Ciaran Neeson who accounted for eight points of his team’s total. Starting at full forward Neeson was soon moved further out the field when he prospered. His accuracy from placed balls and frees gave his team an edge after a shaky start and was well deserving of his man of the match rating.
Davitt’s had two points on the board through their excellent full forward Stephen McGivern and left half forward Canice Mooney before Neeson got his team’s first score on eight minutes. Liam Cassley sent over the equaliser with a fine strike from 40 metres but though they hit the front for the first time soon afterwards with another pointed free by Neeson, McGivern hit back with one for Davitt’s to tie the scores at three apiece after 22 minutes. Points from Padhraig McGill and Ciaran Neeson gave All Saints the edge and when Nial McGarry goaled from a rebound they were six clear with just five minutes left of the opening half. When Neeson pointed another free the gap was out to seven but Davitt’s fought back in the final minutes with a point from Conor Matthews and two from Steven McGivern to cut the gap to four by half time.
Davitt’s top scorer Stephen McGivern – Pic by John McIlwaine
McGivern cut the deficit back to three with a point from a free six minutes after the restart but two fine strikes from Neeson put the Saints five clear again. McGivern grabbed another point for the Belfast men midway through the second half but the scoring dried up dramatically on both sides at this stage as the play got scrappy and disjointed. All Saints ended a fourteen minute scoreless spell with a second goal from Niall McGarry and when Neeson landed a great score from a free inside his own half there was no way back for Davitt’s and Toner’s late goal came too late to effect the outcome.
All Saints – Daire Hasson, Darren McGinty, Christopher McAfee, Francis Casey, Ryan McGarry, Colum Neeson, Brendan McDonnell, Luke O’Rawe, Ciaran McGarry, Damian Gillan, Liam Cassley, Vincent Esler, Niall McGarry, Ciaran Neeson, Padhraig McGill.
Subs – Anthony Mitchell for Casey; Terence Diamond for Luke O’Rawe;
Davitt’s – Sean McIlhatton, Eugene Gallagher, Thomas Og Toland, Gearoid Cosgrove, Nathan Maginn, Thomas Magure, Jason Close, Anthony Rowntree, Michael Og Rowntree, Conor Matthews, Colm McKee, Canice Mooney, Christopher Gallagher, Stephen McGivern, Rory McEvoy.
Referee – Mark McDonald (St Gall’s)
Pics by John McIlwaine