Junior Hurling B Final
Belfast Saints 1-19 St. Brigid’s 1-11
Belfast Saints took the honours in this Junior B Hurling final at Davitt’s on Saturday. The West Belfast combination led by double scores at half time and with Phillip Maguire proving a handful throughout they never looked like losing.
Maguire would finish with 0-10 to his name for an evening of hurling in which the Saints defensive strength and all round ability proved too much for a St. Brigid’s side almost totally dependent on James Kelly for their scores.
Kelly’s free taking was instrumental in keeping his side hanging in there until late in a game they never really looked like winning and his deflected free late in the game led to the goal that put a better reflection on the final score-line.
It was Kelly who got the Musgrave Park side off the mark with a pointed free in the second minute but it would be the only time that Naomh Brid would be ahead as Belfast Saints responded with four on the bounce.
Mark Caldwell, Phillip Maguire with his first of the evening from a free, Pierce O’Rawe and Daniel McGuigan had the Saints three in front by the 10th minute as they began to take control.
Another pointed James Kelly free closed the gap to two but Maguire’s second and another from Robert Gallagher with an excellent over the shoulder effort moved the ‘Hoops’ four in front before Kelly replied with his third of the game for the Musgrave Park side in the 16th minute.
Belfast Saints were then handed the opportunity to put further daylight between the sides when they were awarded a penalty but Maguire’s well struck shot sailed over.
Chris Lundy became the second player to register for St. Brigid’s but they were still hanging in there and Daniel McGuigan replied with two on the bounce before Kelly replied with St. Brigid’s final point of the half in the 27th minute.
Kelly’s point closed the gap to two and the Musgrave management would probably have been happy at this stage but Belfast Saints finished the half strongly as Mark Caldwell Phillip Maguire 0-3 and Robert Gallagher added unanswered points.
Trailing by seven, the Musgrave Park side needed a good start to the second half but in the event it was that man Maguire who extended the Belfast Saints lead from a ‘65’ and followed with another from play in the 3d minute.
James Kelly was busting a gut to get his side back into contention and he replied from a pointed free but significantly his side were off target on a number of occasions as they enjoyed a period of supremacy.
Kelly from two more frees and a fine long range effort from play had the gap down to five at the end of the third quarter but once again the Saints were able to respond emphatically.
Stephen Carey, Phillip Maguire 0-2 f’s hit points and Carey’s goal with a minute of normal time remaining put the contest out of reach.
Kelly’s deflected shot from a free ended in the Saints net to put a better reflection on the result but the final score of the half would fall to Joseph McQuillan with a point in injury time before the celebrations began.
A well-deserved win for Belfast Saints who were dominant in most areas of the field and in Phillip Maguire had a man who looked like scoring every time he received the sliotar and his free taking has been instrumental throughout the championship.
Conor Grieve in goals, Matt Carlin, Ronan Carroll, Pierce O’Rawe, Joseph McQuillan, Mark Caldwell and Daniel McGuigan were others to catch the eye in an strong all round Belfast Saints performance
St. Brigid’s were much too reliant on James Kelly for scores but Brian McGurk, Chris Lundy Michael Burke, Peter Heaney, Cathal Conway and Oisin McDonnell did all in their power to get their side going but to no avail
Belfast Saints: 1 Conor Grieve, 2 Brian Keatings, 3 Matt Carlin, 4 Phillip Glennon, 5 Ronan Carroll, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Pierce O’Rawe, 8 Colm McGoldrick, 9 Joseph McQuillan, 10 Niall McGettigan, 11 Mark Caldwell, 12 Stephen Carey, 13 Robert Gallagher, 14 Phillip Maguire, 15 Daniel McGuigan
St. Brigid’s: 1 Brian McGurk, 27 Chris Lundy 3 Michael Burke, 4 Oliver Leggett, 5 Toirealach Brolly, 6 Peter Heaney, 7 Michael Kerr, 8 Niall Murtagh, 9 Cathal Conway, 10 David Prenter, 11 Jack Pardy, 12 Fintan Cleary, 13 John McGuckian, 14 James Kelly, 15 Oisin McDonnell,
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