Bradley steers St Louis to Foresters final

Danske Bank Ulster Schools Hurling

Foresters Cup semi-final

St Louis 1-13 St Killian’s 0-13

A man of the match performance by centre forward Fiontan Bradley guided St Louis Ballymena to victory over St Killian’s Garron Tower in Friday evening’s semi-final of the Foresters Cup at Quinn Park, Ballymena.

Bradley’s ability to find the target at regular intervals proved the difference between the two sides, and his goal early in the second half was the score that decided the contest. With Caolan McCollum also a starring role at right half forward it gave the Ballymena boys a decided edge.

An evenly contested opening quarter saw the sides level at 0-3 apiece, but St Louis pushed on with four in a row from Bradley (who ended with 0-9) and one from McCollum to open a five point lead. Two St Killian’s pointed frees closed the gap as Canice McIntosh found the target to close the gap to three at the interval.

Bradley struck early in the second half to increase the St Louis lead and when McCollam broke through to score the only goal of the game soon afterwards it was a long way back for the Garron Tower boys. St Louis could have sealed the win a minute later when Bradley found Domnhal McKay on the edge of the square, but a brilliant point blank save by the Tower goalkeeper Ben Duncan turned the ball around for a 65.

To their credit the Tower boys battled hard and held the upper hand during the last twenty minutes, but they hit a series of bad wides during that time that could have got them back into the game. They did close the gap nearing the end but a well taken point from St Louis Caolan McCollum sealed St Louis place in the final against St Pat’s Maghera.