Danske Bank Gallagher Cup final
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 3-9 St Mary’s Belfast 0-16
A great defensive display by CPC saw them hold out against a very good St Mary’s side in Tuesday’s Gallagher Cup Hurling final at Dunsilly. The Ballycastle boys appeared to be up against it when they saw a four point half time lead cut back to a single point within three minutes of the restart, but two incredible saves, on from defender Liam Smyth, midway through the second half, when he somehow kept a Daire Jemfrey ‘rocket’ at bay, and one near the end by goalkeeper Patrick Campbell, to again deny Jemfrey, made the difference.
CPC players celebrate at the final whistle
Goals at vital times by full forward Damian McMahon’s were also significant, the first one from a great ground strike nearing half time and the second one a kicked effort which he forced over the line during a goalmouth scramble ten minutes into the second half which gave his team back a lead they would hold to the end. CPC had carried a 2-6 to 0-8 lead into half time after playing with the strong breeze and watched St Mary’s CBGS fire over three points in a row to cut the game back to the minimum.
McMahon’s goal swung he game back in CPC’s favour , but nine minutes later the teams were all square once more at 3-7 to 0-16 with points from Cormac Mulligan, Jay Gault and Jake Ward.
St Mary’s full forward Daire Jemfrey fires in a shot at goal
The momentum was back with St Mary’s, but the CPC defence, with centre back Eunan Johnston in dominant form, dug in and Matthew Donnelly picked off two points to put them ahead again. St Mary’s though looked the more likely winners at the break as they had played constructively against the breeze despite a goal in the fifth minute from Darragh Kinney.
With points from Kealan McCann, Jemfrey and Darren Delander, they were keeping pace with Ballycastle despite conceding a second goal to McMahon after 23 minutes.
CPC’s Logan MConville celebrates after scoring a point late in the first half.
A point within ten seconds of the re-start gave St Mary’s momentum. The second McMahon goal slowed that a little, but they still looked on course when they drew level for a second time with ten minutes to go.
However credit to the Ballycastle defence for holding them scoreless over those remaining minutes and managing to tag on the match-winning scores.
Cross & Passion: D McMahon 2-0, D Kinney 1-0, M Donnelly 0-5, J Deery 0-2, L McConville and C Christie 0-1 each
St Mary’s: D Delander 0-4, J Gault and D Jemfrey 0-3 each, K McCann and C Mulligan 0-2 each, J Ward and M Murray 0-1 each
