Danske Bank Leonard Cup Schools Hurling
Pics by Sean Trowlen
St Killian’s and Cross & Passion College qualified for the semi-finals of the Leonard Cup following this wees blitz tournament at the Dub and at Slaughtneil.
St.Killians started their day at the Dub with a 2-09 to 2-02 win over Newry.
Playing against the strong breeze in the first half, it took a lot of work for the St.Killian’s backs to keep Newry to as few scores as possible. Aidan McDonnell, Niall McAuley and Riley Steer did excellent to keep the scores to the minimum. The Newry no.14 and 8 were causing lots of problems running forward and should have had a few more scores if only for a little better accuracy.
In the second half, the St.Killian’s forwards came good and some excellent scores from the half forwards of Lorcan McNaughton, Tiernan McKeegan and Ruairi Delargy got the Tower off to a winning start to the day.
In their next game against St. Mary’s, St.Killians again played the first half against the very strong breeze.
St.Mary’s started great, with their forwards out working the St.Killian’s backs for the opening periods. They scored 1-06 without reply, before the Garron Tower players got to grips with them. A well worked short free from Conor Haughey to Ryan Robbin resulted in a well taken goal, followed by a good score by Sevie Trowlen making it it 1-06 1-01 at half time.
In the second half St’Killians got two early goals and some well taken points to settle themselves, and took control from there. Points from James Nulty, Ruairi Delargy and Sevie Trowlen, followed by another goal by Tiernan McKeegan won them the points, finishing 1-08 to 4-06
On Wednesday at Slaughtneil Cross & Passion had a convincing win over St Pat’s Maghera in their opening game, running out winners by 5-16 to 0-06 against a side who were short half their team because of club football commitments.CPC finished off their day by beating Gaelcolaiste Dhoire by 2-12 to 0-04.
In next week’s semi-finals St Killian’s will play the winners of the Gailcolaiste Dhoire v Newry quarter final while CPC face the winners of the St Mary’s CBGS v St Pat’s Maghera game.