Danske Bank Foresters Cup – Ulster Schools Hurling
St Louis Ballymena 3-14 St Mary’s 2-11
Dunsilly hosted the first group match of this year’s Danske Bank Foresters Cup as St Louis and St Mary’s played out an entertaining game, in which St. Louis finished the strongest to come out on top.
On a windy day, that didn’t really favour either team, scores were exchanged early, with points from Paudie Martin for St Louis and Conor McConville for St Mary’s. It would however, be the Ballymena men who rose the first green flag of the game when Fintan Bradley fired the ball to the back of the St Mary’s net in the 15th minute. Two more goals would be registered in the half, the pick of them from St Louis Caleb Smith, who collected a great cross field ball from Luke McFerran, rounded his man, and finished excellently to the bottom corner.
Half time – St. Louis 2.9 St. Mary’s 2.7
The Glen Road men would put St. Louis to the sword early in the second half and in no time, had turned their 2 point deficit into a 2 point lead through Shea Burns and Ethan Walsh.
The middle section of the half was blow for blow, with flawless free taking from Martin and McConville, the game was entering the last 10 minutes firmly in the balance.
However, a long ball into the heart of the St. Mary’s defence broke fortuitously to Bradley and the Cushendall man made no mistake.
From that point St Mary’s struggled to get back into the game, and a few late pointed efforts meant that St Louis ran out winners on a scoreline of 3.14 to 2.11.
Up next for St Louis is competition favourites CPC, whilst St Mary’s play the same opponents a week later.
St Louis scorers: Paudie Martin 0-7 (0-4 frees), Fintan Bradley 2-2, Caleb Smith 1-1, Caolan McFerran 0-4, Caolan McCollum 0-1.
St. Mary’s scorers: Shea Burns 1-2, Conor McConville 0-6 (0-4F), Corey Walsh 1-1, Lorcan McCallin 0-1, Ethan Walsh 0-1
