Danske Bank Foresters’ Shield final
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 4-18 Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 4-17 AET
PIC BY BERT TROWLEN
CPC snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Pairc MacUillin on Wednesday when a point from right half forward Liam Magee sent over the winning point to edge out Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in a thrilling Foresters Shield final. Two minutes earlier it appeared Gaelcholáiste Dhoire had grabbed the winner, but CPC substitute Emmet McKendry sent over the equaliser and Magee grabbed the winning point and the glory when the chips were really down.
You had to feel for the Dungiven boys at the end for they had given so much throughout the game, playing some great hurling as they once again showed what a great addition they are to Ulster Schools hurling. They looked to be out of Wednesday’s game when they trailed by a goal with just a minute left to play, but Aidan Ó Ceallaigh’s late goal brought them level and set up extra time.
The first half of normal time produced five goals as Caodhan Crawford, Liam McGarry and Conor Anderson all found the Gaelcholáiste Dhoire net . The Dungiven school were still very much in the game thought as Emmet óg Mac Íomhair and Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne rattled the CPC net and they trailed by just a goal at the short whistle – 3-5 to 2-5.
That goal advantage remained for most of the second half through the second half as CPC’s Caodhan Crawford (1-3) and Gaelcholáiste Dhoire’s Dylan Ó hEireamhóin (0-14) picked off the points. CPC were holding on a bit nearing the end but it looked as if they had done enough to seal the win, but the Derry boys battling qualities were rewarded when Ó Ceallaigh struck late to send the game to extra time with the scores tied on 3-11 apiece.
Both sides added five points apiece in the first half of extra time which ended on 3-16 each and when Jude Ó Conaire fired home for Gaelcholáiste Dhoire early in the second period it looked like the title was on its way back to Dungiven. However super sub McKendry grabbed a ‘major’ at the other end, before levelling the scores with a point. It appeared to be anyone’s game at this stage until Liam Magee picked up a long clearance from Ashdon McGarry to send over the magic score.
Cross & Passion: C Crawford 1-3, E McKendry 1-1, L McGarry and C Anderson 1-0 each, O McCallin 0-11, C Johnston and L Magee 0-1 each.
Gaelcholáiste: E óg Mac Íomhair 1-2, PP Ó Duibhne 1-1, A Ó Ceallaigh and J Ó Conaire 0-1 each, D Ó hEireamhóin 0-14
CPC: Ruairí McShane, Oran Devlin, Ashdon McGarry, Eunan Johnston, Liam Smyth, Darragh Kinney, Ryan McQuaid, Oisin Connolly, Liam McGarry, Liam Magee, Oisin McCallin, Conan Johnston, Cadhan Crawford, Conor Anderson, Logan McConville
Subs used: Luke Connolly, Emmett McKendry
Gaelcholáiste: Caoimhín Ó hEireamhóin, Cormac Mac an tSionnaigh, Declan Ó Ceallaigh, Ciarán Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliaim, Cian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, Dara Ó Lochlainn, Dylan Ó Ceallaigh, Lorcán Ó Muirí, Cahair Ó Baoill, Dylan Ó hEireamhóin Jude Ó Connaire, Cahir Mac Niocaill, Aidan Ó Ceallaigh, Emmett óg Mac Íomhair, Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne
