Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor club Hurling final

Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) 1-14 Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon (Tyrone) 1-10

A NEW name went on the Leaden Timber Frames Ulster minor club hurling Cup on Sunday with Loughgiel Shamrocks powerful first half setting them up for a first title as the competition reached the quarter-century milestone.

The Antrim champions had the aid of the breeze for that opening half and turned over with a 0-11 to 0-3 advantage. Indeed they were six points up (four of them from Michael McGarry frees) before Eoghan Ruadh got their first score from a Cian Ferguson free after 15 minutes.

Ferguson scored the other two Dungannon points from frees as well as the competition favourites pinned his side back in their own half.

But things changed on the re-start when a long ball from Michael Little was pumped into the Loughgiel square and knocked down into the path of Rory Weir who pulled it to the net.

However from the puck-put, the Shamrocks went up the field and some good passing put Odhran McGrath in the clear and he also hit the net. 

But the Tyrone men were not going away and Ferguson pointed two frees and Sean Paul McKernan pointed from a side-line around 45 metres out and the gap between the teams was cut to 1-11 to 1-6.

Loughgiel needed to lift their game and a couple of points from Michael McGarry frees and another from Rian McMullan stretched their lead.

Just as well as Eoghan Ruadh came back strongly with points from McKernan, Donaghy, Ferguson and Little to make for an exciting finish with Kevin McAuley making two excellent goal-line clearances and one of his defenders turning away a 20m free.

At the close presentations were made to the Players of the Match for each team (Conall Devlin for Eoghan Ruadh and Loughgiel’s Rian McMullan) and also to Ballinascreen president Seamus Doherty who began the competition in 1995 and who has been a driving force in promoting it over the past quarter of a century.

Loughgiel : Kevin McAuley, Conor Henry, Ruairi McCloskey, Christy Dickson, Enda óg McGarry 0-1, Declan McCloskey (capt), Tiernan McAlonan, Shane O’Boyle, Cathal Hargan 0-1, Ryan Hill, Michael McGarry 0-7 frees, Frank Boyle, Rian McMullan 0-4, Odhran McGrath 1-0, Christy McGarry 0-1.

Subs :  Conor O’Mullan for F Boyle (25)

Eoghan Ruadh : C Molloy, J Donnelly, F Devlin, B Rush, A Toner, C Devlin capt, SP McKernan 0-2, 0-1 sideline, M Little 0-1 free, C Fitzgerald, Matthew McCann 0-1, C MacGinty, F Donaghy 0-1, C Hughes, C Ferguson 0-6, 0-5 frees, R Weir 1-0.

Subs : C McCrory for B Rush (38), Mark McCann for C Fitzgerald

Referee: Alan Nash (Derry)

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Danske Bank MacNamee Cup semi-final

St Killian’s Garron Tower 4-6 St Mary’s CBGS Belfast 2-4

ST KILLIAN’S switched Daire Higgins and Oran McCambridge at half-time in this Danske Bank MacNamee Cup semi-final in Allen Park and turned the game on its head as both players were energised for the second half and both scored immediately changing an interval deficit of a point into a lead that the Tower expanded eventually into a comfortable win.

St Mary’s, through a goal from Shea Cunningham, led by 1-2 to 0-4 at the break and there seemed little between the teams.

However Higgins equalised with a point on the re-start and McCambridge hit a goal that was quickly followed by a second goal from Daniel Douthart as the Tower pressed the St Mary’s poc outs.

Further goals followed for Thomas McLaughlin and then a second from McCambridge as holders St Killian’s stretched their lead to 4-6 to 1-2 before a late rally from St Mary’s delivered a goal and two points for Niall May.

May and Cunningham had good games for St Mary’s along with Aaron Mackle while St Killian’s got stronger as the game progressed with John Scullion, Fintan McKillop and midfielders Callum McIlwaine and Callagh Mooney all catching the eye.

The second semi-final between St Patrick’s Maghera and Cross and Passion Ballycastle has been put back until Monday 2pm in Ballymena with the final scheduled for later next week.

St Killian’s : Joseph McKay, James Kearney, John Scullion, Oran McClintock, Aodhan Campbell, Fintan McKillop, Colla Ward, Calum McIlwaine 0-1, Callagh Mooney 0-1. Daniel Douthart 1-0, Oran McCambridge 2-2, Charlie McAuley 0-1, Thomas McLaughlin 1-0, Daire Higgins 0-1, Cahir McNaughton

St Mary’s : Daragh Brown, Conall Short, Shea Cunningham 1-0, Conall McLoughlin, Aaron Mackle, Corey Darragh, Cian McCann, Conor McConville, Lorcan McCallin 0-1, Niall May 1-3, Michael Marlow, Caoimhin Taylor, Josh Walsh, Corey Walsh, Shea Burns

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Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor club Hurling Cup semi-final:

Loughgiel (Antrim) 5-15 Ballygalget (Down) 0-8

DESPITE losing Rian McMullan to a second yellow card just before the break, Loughgiel comfortably progressed to next Sunday’s Leadon Timber Frames Ulster minor club final in Ballinascreen.

The Shamrocks had already built up a match-winning interval lead of 4-6 to 0-5 when the red card followed the second yellow and they were able to hold their shape during the second half to reach the decider.

Overall Loughgiel’s movement in the forward line on and off the ball was excellent and two goals from Odhrán McGrath in the opening quarter sent them on their way.

Michael McGarry bagged a third goal in the 16^th minute and when Frank Boyle picked up an excellent pass from McGrath to find the top corner for a score to grace any occasion in the 26^th minute Loughgiel were coasting.

The dismissal of McMullan raised a question mark and, had Caolán Watson despatched a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half, Ballygalget might have found the confidence to bite back, but Kevin McAuley the shot saved and McGrath (2) and Cathal Hargan quickly punished the error with points.

When Michael McGarry bagged his second and Loughgiel’s fifth goal in the 39^th minute the door closed on Ballygalget for whom goalie Rossa McGrath, Michael Toner, Owen McDermott, Caolan Coulter, Jon Fisher and Ciaran Watson were best.

Loughgiel had a number of stand-out players including Declan McCloskey and Enda óg McGarry in defence, Shane O’Boyle and Cathal Hargan in midfield, with all the forwards a threat.

Loughgiel : Kevin McAuley, Conor Henry, Ruairi McCloskey, Christy Dickson, Enda Og McGarry, Declan McCloskey (capt), Tiernan McAlonan, Shane O’Boyle 0-1, Cathal Hargan 0-3, Ryan Hill 0-2, Michael McGarry 2-2, 0-1 free, Frank Boyle 1-0, Rian McMullan 0-1, Odhran McGrath 2-5, Christy McGarry 0-1.

Subs :  Conor O’Mullan for F Boyle (50), Conor McCormick for M McGarry (54), Damien Quinn for R Hill (54), T McCaughan for E McGarry (56)

Ballygalget : R McGrath, E Pucci, J Lee, O O’Connor, O McDermoott, M Toner, J Higgins, C Coulter 0-2, J Fisher 0-1, O Coulter, C Watson 0-3, 0-2 frees, M Dorrian 0-1, F Gilmore, S Doran, B McNamara 0-1.

Subs : R Coulter for S Doran.

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