Well done to All Saints in the Junior B semi-final and all the Best in Friday night’s final from Ashgrove conservatories
Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final
All Saints 6-14 Davitt’s 0-13
Ciaran Neeson struck an impressive 5-5 as All Saints racked up an impressive 6-14 against a Davitt’s side who had no answer to the movement and firepower of the impressive Ballymena number 14. The Falls Road side gave it everything but after a promising opening where they struck the opening two points they were always second best to the Slemish Park men.
Alan Rainey pointed Davitt’s ahead after 20 seconds and when Chris Gallagher struck a second with two minutes on the clock the City side must have fancied their chances. Two minutes later Ciaran Neeson fired home the game’s opening goal to put All Saints ahead and they never looked back.
The same player followed with a point before rising to field the sliotar and turned his marker to fire home his second goal with only 8 minutes gone. He then moved out from the edge of the square to send a 60 yard free between the sticks and it was already looking ominous for the opposition.
Padraig Magill added a point as All Saints started to gain control and Neeson followed with another to move his side seven clear with only 10 minutes gone. Canice Mooney briefly halted the onslaught from a 14th minute free and for a time the All Saints radar deserted them as they shot three wides in quick succession.
Sadly for Davitt’s it wasn’t to last as that man Neeson added a point from another long range free and then set up the hard working Gary Miskella for another from play to move the Ballymena side nine in front with 19 minutes gone.
Davitt’s were still working like Trojans to get back into contention and they hit three unanswered points between the 20th and 23d minute which suggested they might yet make a fight of it. Colm McKee, Gearoid Cosgrove and Canice Mooney were the men on target but it brought another response from their opponents.
Damian Gillan pointed a 24th minute free before the superb Ciaran Neeson completed his hat-trick. The full-forward rose above his marker to deflect the sliotar into his own path before gathering and firing past Joseph McCaffrey in one flowing movement.
McCaffrey got down to make a good save and deny Ciaran Cassley with the 30 minutes of normal time almost up with Damian Gillan returning the resulting ‘65’ between the uprights and Canice Mooney for Davitt’s and Gillan for All Saints exchanged injury time scores to leave All Saints 3-9 to 0-7 ahead at the break.
On the restart Damian Gillan pointed another long range free to extend the Ballymena men’s lead and at the other end Daire Hasson brought off a good save to deny Alan Rainey at the expense of a ‘65’ as Davitt’s tried to respond.
Chris Gallagher sent the resulting ‘65’ over the bar and Canice Mooney added another from play with a few bad challenges starting to creep into the game. Ciaran Neeson went down injured but thankfully for the All Saints management and supporters was able to continue after treatment.
The mercurial Neeson continued where he had left of as he pointed a free and added another from play and he was proving virtually unmarkable with his pace and skill. Damian Gillan added a point before Neeson fired home his and his side’s fourth goal from a difficult angle out to the left of goal as the floodgates opened.
Gary Miskella had been working tirelessly throughout on the ‘40’ and he set up Ciaran Neeson for his fifth goal with 15 minutes still to play. It was Miskella who was the provider again and his high fetch and long delivery paved the way for substitute Francis Casey to steal in for goal number six.
Davitt’s could have thrown in the towel at this stage but to their credit they kept battling away and were rewarded again for their efforts with points from Colm McKee, Chris Gallagher and McKee again but they just couldn’t find their way through a solid All Saints defence for a much needed goal.
Canice Mooney concluded the Davitt’s scoring with a point late in the game and it was fitting that final score of the game fell to the stick of Ciaran Neeson as he directed a free between the uprights after being fouled himself.
A great performance by All Saints with that man Neeson leading the way but he was only one of a host of players who performed well on the night with Chris McAffee, Terence Diamond, Colum Neeson, Vincent Esler, Luke O’Rawe, Gary Miskella and Damian Gillan others to shine in a very solid team performance.
Davitt’s certainly played their part in making this a real championship battle but were unfortunate to encounter a player of Neeson’s ability right at the top of his game. They never the less had their own outstanding performers in Christopher Gallagher, Canice Mooney, Colm McKee and Geordie O’Kane.
All Saints will now play Latharna Og of Larne, who defeated Loch Mor Dal gCais in the other semi-final, in next Friday night’s final and the game is likely to attract a good crowd and has the potential to be a tight contest.
All Saints: Daire Hasson, PJ O’Kane, Chris McAffee, Terry Diamond, Sean O’Rawe, Colum Neeson, Brendan McDonnell, Vincent Esler, Luke O’Rawe, Cormac Magill, Gary Miskella, Padraig Magill, Ciaran Cassley, Ciaran Neeson, Damian Gillan. Subs: Francis Casey, Anthony Mitchell, Barry Dorrity.
Davitt’s: Joseph McCaffrey, Patrick Maguire, Eugene Gallagher, Liam McHugh, Nathan Maginn, Christopher Gallagher, Ruairi McIlroy, Gary Nelson, Peter Og Carleton, Canice Mooney, Colm McKee, Cormac Maguire, Ciaran Rice, Gearoid Cosgrove, Alan Rainey. Subs: Kevin Brady, Geordie O’Kane
Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)
