Senior Reserve Shield Final 

Loughgiel 3-18 St Paul’s 2-09

Pics by Bert Trowlen and John McIlwaine

Fielding a team containing six members of the All Ireland winning side of 2012 Loughgiel had too much guile and know-how for St Paul’s in Tuesday night’s Senior Reserve Shield final at Dunsilly. The Shamrocks played with the wind in the opening half and lead by 3-12 to 1-04 at half time. When St Paul’s started the second half well with a penalty goal from centre forward Sean Og McLaren it looked like there might be a comeback on the cards, but the Shamrocks veterans shut up shop and went on to win with a bit to spare.

Fielding a team of ‘auld fellas, and boys of a brave age’ the Shamrocks made their experience tell from the start and former club and county great, Eddie NcCloskey hit 1-01 to add to points by Odhran McGrath and Aodhan McFadden.

St Paul’s too had an All Ireland winner in their team and centre-forward Sean Og McLaren, former All Ireland U16 Poc Fada champion, got his team back in the race with a goal and he added a point soon afterwards to keep his team well in contention, but two quick goals from Tomas McIntyre and Benny McCarry in the tenth and eleventh minutes left the Shaw’s Road men with a mountain to climb.

The Shamrocks raced on from there adding a series of great points, four of them from Benny McCarry, two from Eddie McCloskey and one each from Tomas McIntyre and Cathair McGrath to reach half-time with a 3-12 to 1-04 lead, all the St Paul’s scores coming from Sean Og McLaren.

McLaren gave St Paul’s a bit of hope with his penalty goal early in the second half but they were unable to keep up the challenge and with Benny McCarry leading the line up front Loughgiel went on to claim the trophy with a twelve point win.

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