South Antrim Berringer Cup Final
St Johns 3-13-1-10 St Galls
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
A clinical first half helped St Johns on their way to clinch the Berringer Cup with a 3-13-1-10 win over St Galls at Corrigan Park on Sunday morning.
It was the first Berringer Cup final since 2019 due to the Covid pandemic and on that occasion, St Johns rallied late to secure South Antrim’s prestigious honour against Davitt’s.
The holders were in ascendancy in the early stages with Conor Hand, Conor Adams and Oisin McManus in amongst their early scorers.
Niall Fallon hit two of his sides opening scores, but the Milltown side were 0-05-0-03 behind in the early stages.
The opening goal of proceedings came courtesy of a quickly taken free from Adams that caught St Galls cold and gave his side a 1-05-0-03 advantage.
Hand swung a lovely shot over the bar and Oisin McManus dropped another impressive shot between the posts.
St Galls hit back when Aodh Mullan’s attempted point came off the large post and Niall Fallon swopped in and shot to the net to give his side a lifeline.
However, an Andy McGowan strike before the break ensured that St Johns were 2-09-1-03 ahead at the midway point and in pole position to claim the Berringer Cup come the games conclusion.
A Conor Hand point extended the hosts advantage upon the game’s resumption, but Niall Fallon responded with a converted free.
Adams took a pass on the loop and squeezed an effort over before converting a free shortly after.
St Galls replied with three points on the spin, Aodh Mullan converted a free, Kieran McGourty was the recipient of a short free and played a role that saw a high shot from Mark Kelly drop over the bar.
The resulting kick-out fell to Oran McIlhatton and he returned it over- despite their purple patch- the Milltown side still trailed 2-12-1-07.
Joe Garland and Conall McCabe traded points and a further Aodh Mullan free reduced arrears further heading into the final ten minutes.
The insurance score for the Johnnies came courtesy of a Laughlin McCurdy goal that gave his side a 3-13-1-09 advantage.
St Galls would register a further point before the conclusion, although it was merely scant consolation as the game was beyond doubt as the holders ensured the trophy would remain on the Whiterock Road for a further twelve months- three years after their last success.
