Six colleges, each fielding two teams, took part in a very successful and enjoyable Year 8 Hurling Blitz on the fabulous new 4G pitch at St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena on Friday.

St. Mary’s CBGS, Glen Road, Rathmore Grammar, St. Patrick’s Maghera, St. Killian’s Garron Tower and Cross & Passion, Ballycastle joinjed hosts St. Louis and the boys produced some excellent hurling on a surface that lends itself to fast hurling.

the brainchild of St Louis teacher Conor ‘Gooch’ Gillan the event was played purely for the joy of hurling, with no finals or trophies at the end of the day’s play. If the reaction among the Year 8 students and their teachers is anything to go by then this will be a regular event in the hurling calander from now on.

Mr Paul Hughes of St Pat’s Maghera commented ” Well done Gooch and St Louis on a great event today, brilliant opp to get year 8s going.”, while St Killian’s Mr Cassidy of CPC added “young lads were buzzing this morning heading off and came back buzzing! Thanks Gooch.”

Conor McGurk Cup final at the DUB Arena

Donegal 5-28 Ulster University 0-21

Donegal hurlers made a bit of history at the Dub on Thursday evening when they won the Conor McGurk Cup for the first time. The Tir Connail men were in top form, scoring 5 goals and 28 points as they put a disappointing UU team to the sword.  In fairness to the students they had been preparing all season for the Ryan Cup, which was held two weeks ago and probably were not in the best frame of mind for such a challenge. In truth that probably would not have mattered either way as Donegal were in superb form on the night and would have put it up to any team.

Donegal flew out of the traps from the start and led brilliantly by man of the match Liam McKinney they were 1-7 to 0-3 ahead by the 18^th minute, the goal coming from corner forward Ronan McDermott. UU fought back with two points from Kevin Curran and one from Aaron Bradley but there was no stopping the Donegal men who pushed on to  lead by 2-12 to 0-8 at the break, the second goal coming from a man with strong Antrim connections, Ruairi Campbell.

There was no let-up in the pace at the start of the second half as Donegal added a goal and five points in the first six minutes, to a single point from the students. The Jordanstown side ha brief spell when Aaron Bradley hit two, Caolan McKernan and Declan McCloskey, who had moved up from full back at the start of the second half, got one apiece, but it was to be a brief respite as the scores kept coming at the other end. Ryan, McKinney, McKeogh and O’Laughlin all getting in on the act

Bradley, McCloskey, and Cloney Gaels Colla McDonnell added to the UU tally but Donegal finished in style with points from Campbell, McKinney and Gartland and a Darragh O’Malley goal to seal a highly impressive win.

DONEGAL

Luke White, Stephen McBride, Michael Donahue, Padraig Doherty, Gavin Browne, Bernard Lafferty, Ryan Hilferty, Conor Gartland, Jack O’Loughlin, Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott, Brian McIntyre, Ruairi Campbell, Rithcie Ryan, Gerry Gilmore.

ULSTER UNIVERSITY

Pearse Smyth, Mark McClean, Declan McCloskey, Kevin Curran, Caolan McKernan, Aodhan O’Brien, Tom Scally, Eoghan Cassidey, Finn Turpin, Ciaran Magill, Deaghlan Mallon, John Kennedy, Danna McKeogh, Luca McCusker, Aaron Bradley.

Subs – Colla McDonnell

Referee – Kevin Parke (Antrim)

Danske Bank Foresters Cup quarter final

St Louis Ballymena 1-18  St Pat’s Maghera 2-10

St Louis Ballymena held off a battling fightback from St Pat’s Maghera in the second half of Tuesday evening’s Foresters Cup quarter final in Ahoghill to secure a place in next week’s semi-final.

Five ahead at the break and six clear after forty minutes the Ballymena boys appeared to be secure, but Maghera showed all their battling qualities to cut the gap back to just two and it appeared to be anybody’s game, but with Padraig Martin leading the line they steadied the steadied the ship and got home with five to spare in the end

A point from Caolan McCollum and two from Fiontan Bradley gave St Louis a good start but Maghera hit back with a goal from a penalty by Conor Melaugh brought his team level. With Martin and Fiontan Bradly in good form St Louis pulled clear again and were five to the good when Melaugh got his second goal to leave just two between the sides. However the Ballymena school finished the half strongly and the skilful Bradley fired the Maghera net just before the break to give his team 1-12 to 2-4 lead at the change of ends.

Two pointed frees from Martin, in reply to one from Melaugh increased the St Louis lead to six, but they were pegged back as St Pat’s took control around the middle of the field and his some great long range points, one in particular from full back Cahal McKaigue, a real eye catcher. St Louis were wobbling but a lovely pointed free from out on the wing by Bradley and two pointed efforts from Man of the Match Padraig Martin was enough to get them home.

ST LOUIS

Sean Douthart, Ryan McClements, Luke McFerran, Ger McFadden, Jack McKeever, Sean Og Blaney, Sean McDermott, Ryan O’Boyle, Harry Fyfe, Charlie Cunning, Padraig Martin, Callan McCollum Caolan McFerran, Caleb Smith, Finton Bradley

ST PAT’S

Anthony Magill, Phelim Og Diamond, Cahal McKaigue, Ruairi Beggs, Danny Gallagher, Fiachra Turner, Charlie Freel, Kevin Mullan, Johnny Mullan, Gabhan McIvor, Jack McCloy, Padraig O’Kane, Cilliian McEldowney, Conor Melaugh, Pauric McAreavy.

REFEREE – Brendan Totten