South Antrim Beringer Cup final
St Johns 1-10-0-12 Davitts
From Kevin Herron at Woodlands
A second-half injury-time point from Jude McCurdy gave St Johns the lead for the first time in proceedings and was enough to settle the Beringer Cup final as the Johnnies pipped Davitts at the post with a 1-10-0-12 win in Sunday evening’s final at Woodlands.
The Falls Road side had always kept their noses in front from the outset and it was perhaps their failure to get the better of goalkeeper Matthew Leydon that would eventually come back to cost them.
Despite leading 0-12-0-09 they couldn’t press on and St Johns hit the net and levelled for the sixth time through captain Declan Cregan before McCurdy edged his side ahead of the first time and the Whiterock men held out for victory – contrasting emotions having tasted defeat in last years decider.
Davitts made the brighter start under lights in Woodlands with Caoimhin Slane converting a 5th minute free and David Nugent steering the ball over to double their advantage.
The games first goal chance came on 11 minutes and fell to Stephen Toner whose low drive was parried to safety by Matthew Leydon in the Johnnies goal.
But by the midway point in the opening half it was Davitts who stretched their lead as Toner combined with Nugent whose shot sailed between the posts.
It took St Johns 16 minutes to muster a response as Oisin Donnelly and Declan Cregan combined to find Joe Garland and Garland curled the ball over the bar.
Garland doubled his and St Johns tally sixty-seconds later after some quick improvisation from a free to Gareth Clarke, Garland then took the ball back and confidently stuck it high between the large sticks.
Oisin Donnelly restored parity shortly after to make it 0-03 apiece but Davitts quickly regained the lead as Anthony Rowntree burst forward and popped the ball over the bar.
A second goal chance then went a-begging as Caoimhin Slane picked out Danny Largey unmarked, but Matthew Leydon was at full stretch to keep the ball out.
Jude McCurdy tied the game up with a close-range free and the sides traded further scores through Nugent and Garland.
A minute into first-half injury-time Davitts led for the fourth time and forged ahead at the break, Danny Largey popped the ball to Sean O’Neill who in turn found Tony McGrattan and the corner-forward popped the ball over to give his side a 0-06-0-05 lead at the midway point in proceedings.
Davitts doubled their lead upon the resumption with Danny Largey picking out Gerard Burns for a point.
Jude McCurdy (free) responded and both sides free takers- Slane and McCurdy would trade further placed balls.
St Johns drew level for the fourth time as substitute Fergal Morgan broke the ball at midfield, weaved his way into a scoring position and after a one-two was able to pop the ball between the posts to make it 0-08 apeice.
The sides traded the next two scores through Burns and McCurdy to leave things firmly balanced approaching the home straight.
With ten minutes remaining Christopher Rafferty hoisted the ball over the bar and the pendulum would swing back in his sides favour as the score was followed up by points from Caoimhin Slane (free) and Ryan Park.
St Johns had work to do but on 54 minutes they pegged Davitts back for the sixth time in a pulsating encounter.
Joe Garland popped a high ball into the Davitts area which was gathered by Jude McCurdy, the ball slipped out of McCurdy’s possession but broke kindly for Declan Cregan and the Johnnies captain kept his composure to guide a low shot past Liam McGivern and into the net to make it 0-12-1-09.
Both sides pushed for the winning score in a tense finale and on the 60th minute mark Jude McCurdy fisted the ball over the bar to nudge his side ahead for the first time in the game (1-10-0-12).
Davitts had the chance to reply deep into injury-time through a late free- Sean O’Neill took responsibility for the chance to send the game to extra-time but the Crusaders shot-stopper dragged his effort inches wide of the posts.
It would prove to be his sides final opportunity as St Johns ran out narrow winners to claim the 2019 Beringer Cup, twelve months after tasting defeat to Gort na Mona in the showpiece decider.
St Johns: M Leydon, B Moore, C Hanna, C Maskey, R Hannigan, S Tierney, A Press, G Clarke, D McCallin, D Cregan (1-00), O Donnelly (0-01), J Garland (0-03), F McCrudden, K McGuinness, J McCurdy (0-05, 0-03f). Subs: K Cunningham for B Moore (20); F Morgan (0-01) for A Press (29); L McCurdy for F McCrudden (44).
Davitts: L McGivern, M Rowntree, J Park, C Rafferty (0-01), C Toner, A Rowntree (0-01), C Slane (0-03f), S O’Neill, R Park (0-01), S Toner, D Largey, N Hughes, T McGrattan (0-01), G Burns (0-02), D Nugent (0-03).
Referee: Paddy Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
