JHC B Semi-Final
Belfast Saints All Saints 1-21
A sharp All Saints, Ballymena proved too strong for their namesakes, Belfast Saints in this Junior Hurling B Championship semi-final at Woodlands on Sunday afternoon.
The St. Agnes-St. Teresa’s combination led briefly when a ‘65’ from Mark Caldwell in the 5th minute sailed all the way to the All Saints net with Ronan McAlister possibly losing the sight of the sliothar in the strong sun.
The Ballymena side responded immediately with a goal from Cormac Magill and were never headed as they gradually took control with the free taking of Damian Gillan keeping the score-board ticking over.
Belfast Saints battled hard throughout the contest with their own free taker, Philip Maguire tagging on some excellent scores and still looked to be well in contention when they trailed 1-12 to 1-5 at the halfway stage with the benefit of the wind to come in their favour in the second half.
Those first half points came from Maguire who contribute 0-4 with Niall McCann getting the other with an excellent strike.
Luke O’Rawe, Paddy Doherty, Damian Gillan 0-5, Daniel Gray 0-2, Cormac Magill 0-2 and Daniel Kelly were the men on target for the Slemish Park side.
Cormac Magill extended the visitors lead, 20 seconds into the second half with Philip Maguire and Damian Gillan exchanging further points before Vinny Esler replaced Dan Kelly in the All Saints attack.
The visitors were adapting much better into the breeze with Archie McGreevey dropping deep as the scoring dried up for a time before Robert Gallagher struck a good point for the Belfast side in the 12th minute to briefly raise their hopes.
Dee Gillan struck a fine point direct from a ‘65’ in reply and Jack Magill followed with a good catch and strike in response to another Philip Maguire point for the home side.
The hosts were now going route one with Conor McLean and Dylan Grieve providing a target with their height up front but the All Saints defence stood tall with Dwayne McKee, Finn Connon and Robert Crooks turning everything that came their way.
Cormac Magill was still providing a serious threat up front and he extended the All Saints lead with a point in the 22nd minute with Robert Gallagher from a 60 meter free and Philip Maguire from closer range responding for the Belfast Saints.
Another Damian Gillan point and an excellent score from Jack Magill moved the Ballymena side out of sight with Conor Grieve then making an excellent save from Gillan at the expense of a ‘65’ which the All Saints sharp shooter converted.
Belfast Saints kept battling to the end but Ronan McAlister in the visitors goals pulled of a couple of smart stops to ensure there would be no late drama and it is the Ballymena Saints who now go forward to meet Kickham’s, Ardoyne in the final.
Belfast Saints: 1 Conor Grieve, 2 Adam O’Rourke, 3 Matt Carlin, 4 Philip Glennon, 5 Pierce O’Rawe, 6 Robert Gallagher, 7 Brian Keatings, 8 Joseph McQuillan, 9 Niall McCann, 10 Phil Maguire, 11 Mark Caldwell, 12 Kieran Grieve, 13 Niall McGettigan, 14 Conor McLean, 15 Keevan Og Grieve
Subs: 16 Dylan Grieve, Dan McConnell, 18 Dan McConnell, 23 Caomhin McNeill, 19 Eoin Clarke
All Saints: 1 Ronan McAlister, 2 Kevin Brady, 3 Dwayne McKee, 4 Finn Connon, 5 Daniel Gray, 6 Robert Crooks, 7 Niall Savage, 18 Richard O’Rawe, 10 Daniel Kelly, 11 Cormac Magill, 13 Jack Magill, 14 Archie McGreevey, 15 Damian Gillan, 17 Luke Mulholland, 23 Patrick Doherty.
Subs: Vinny Esler, Sean O’Rawe, Paddy Murphy,
Referee: Seamus Shannon
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