fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Club Championship at St Paul’s

Bellaghy 6-11 Crossmaglen 0-8

 Bellaghy breezed to their first Ulster Minor title at St Paul’s for 24 years when they brushed aside the challenge of Armagh champions Crossmaglen in the New Year’s day final at Shaw’s Road.

In charge from the very start the Derry champions gave an exhibition of football as they cut through the Cross defence with precision. They failed to turn their territorial advantage into scores for a good part of the first half but a late charge, which brought a series of great points from centre forward Lorcan Spier and a goal from midfielder Conleth McShane put the 1-8 to 0-3 clear at the break.

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Despite losing Odhran Kieran to a second yellow card as the game resumed, Crossmaglen closed the gap through full forward Cian McConville, but it was to prove brief respite for the Armagh side as Bellaghy’s full forward Paul Cassidy fired home his team’s second goal a minute later and suddenly the gap was out to ten. Keelan Friel grabbed his team’s third goal soon afterwards, despite the best efforts of Cross goalkeeper Stephen Morgan and when Oisin McErlain grabbed number four the size of the winning margin was the only thing to be decided.

There was still time for two more majors as midfielder McShane completed a brilliant hat-trick with goals in the 49^th and 53^rd minutes.

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Overall a fantastic display from a highly talented team. The official man of the match award went to McShane’s midfield partner Kealan Friel, and in truth few would argue with the choice, but McShane, full forward Paul Cassidy and centre forward Lorcan Spier could easily have been given the award.

Bellaghy: Daire McErlean, Cormac McLarnon, James Diamond, Ronan McFaul, Odhran Lee, Conan Milne, Lee Brady, Conleth McShane (3-0), Kealan Friel (1-1), Oisin McErlean (1-1), Lorcan Spier (0-5), Peter McErlean, Charlie Diamond (0-1f), Paul Cassidy (1-2), Ronan Lee (0-1f).

Subs: Oisin McClafferty for C McLarnon (51), C McLarnon for O Lee (55), Sean Turner for C Diamond (58), Feargall Murray for L Spier (60).

Crossmaglen: Stephen Morgan, Declan Stuttard, Ryan Duffy, Liam Finnegan, Thomas Cassidy, Tony O’Callaghan, Miceal Murray, Shane Morgan, Eoghan McMahon, Odhran Kieran, Patsy Finnegan (0-2), Dara O’Callaghan (0-1), Oisin Doyle (0-1f), Cian McConville (0-3, 1f), James Teelan.

Subs: Ruairi Keenan (0-1) for T Cassidy (27), Orin McKeown for Shane Morgan (27), Caolan Dooley for O Doyle (43), Shane Morgan for E McMahon (51).   

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