Junior Hurling Championship
Sean Tracey’s 3-16 Killeavy 2-14
Two crucial first half goals by star man Danny Magee along with a Patrick Lyness three pointer saw reigning champions Sean Tracey’s book their place in this year’s Junior Championship Final. Killeavy fought back strongly with two second half goals of their own but the Lurgan men were fully deserving of their five point victory.
Anthony Carville opened the scoring for the eventual winners with a long range free while Killeavy responded through Shea Gregory. Sean Tracey’s struck the net for the first time in the game after 6 minutes when Michael Doran’s solo run and shot was knocked away by the Killeavy keeper, only for Lyness to tap in for an easy finish.
David Grant struck a free for Killeavy before points from Danny Magee and Joe McKeever put a four point difference between the sides. Killeavy then hit a purple patch, scoring four of the next five points, with Sean Tracey’s Danny Magee splitting points from Joe O’Connor, David Grant (2) and Paul Quinn, with one now the margin.
Magee and full forward Raymond Daly dominated the final exchanges of the half striking a point each while Magee rattled the net twice, Daly providing the final pass on both occasions. Magee’s goals where the final scores of an evenly fought out opening period but the goals proved to be the difference as Sean Tracey’s led at the interval 3-6 to 0-6.
Straight from the throw in Reece Magee split the posts to further Sean Tracey’s lead before Killeavy struck three points on the trot, Conor Hannaway, David Grant and Joe O’Connor all finding their range. Sean Tracey’s hit the next two with Danny and Kyle Magee before Killeavy rattled the net through a Joe O’Connor penalty to bring them back into contention.
Danny Magee swiftly responded with two more points to add to his ever growing tally while Shea Gregory and Tiarnan McKavanagh traded scores. Magee continued his scoring spree with a brace while David Grant (2) and Shea Gregory kept the score board ticking over for the Killeavy men.
Magee brought his tally to an impressive 2-9 with a further two points while Killeavy never gave up and were rewarded as Joe Grant hit 1-1 in the final moments. It wasn’t enough to get something out of the game however as the damage had already been done, Sean Tracey’s marching on to the county final with a 3-16 to 2-14 victory.
Sean Tracey’s: Declan Maher, Barry McDonald, Canice McCavanagh, Ryan Sands, Ciaran McCann, Anthony Carville (0-1), Ordhan McCann, Reece Magee (0-1), Rory Shine, Michael Doran (0-1), Joe McKeever (0-1), Tiarnan McKavanagh (0-1), Danny Magee (2-9), Raymond Daly (0-1), Patrick Lyness (1-0) Subs: Kyle Magee (0-1) for P. Lyness, Patrick Scullion R. Daly for Neil Corey for C. McCann
Killeavy: Eamon McAteer, Liam McNally, Paddy O’Connor, Paudie McParland, Fergal Connelly, Morgan Thomas, Declan Donaghy, Conor Hannaway (0-1), Eoin McParland, Paul Quinn (0-1), Joe O’Connor (1-2), Shea Gregory (0-3), Adam Matthews, David Grant (0-6), Mattie McEvoy. Subs: Joe Grant (1-1) for M. McEvoy, Patrick Byrne for P. McParland, Peter Smith for C. Hannaway
Senior Hurling Championship
Middletown 1-21 Derrynoose 3-9
Middletown appeared to have the game wrapped up when the half time whistle sounded but Derrynoose displayed serious battling qualities to give the crowd an entertaining second 30 minutes of hurling. Middletown however proved to be the best team on the night with Nathan Curry, David Carvill and Ryan Gaffney really stepping up when the going got tough.
Carvill opened the scoring, hitting the first two points of the contest after five minutes of play. Peter McKearney halved the deficit as Middletown were unlucky not to rattle the net, the post coming to Derrynoose’s rescue before Man of the Match Nathan Curry split the posts to see Middletown take a 3-1 lead after 12 minutes.
Middletown were well on top during this period but some wayward shooting (3 points from 11 shots) meant that Derrynoose were still within touching distance while the game could have been out of sight. Middletown did tag on another two with Carvill converting a free and Paddy McBride scoring from the resulting puck out.
Aaron Fox bombed forward all evening for his side and opened his account with an audacious effort from close to the sideline but Middletown tagged on a further three scores to keep their momentum flowing, Mark McClatchey, Dean Gaffney and Nathan Curry all getting in on the action.
Derrynoose’s defence held strong but were constantly put on the back foot and sustained serious pressure throughout the first half. Points from Ryan Gaffney and Nathan Curry kept the score board ticking over while Peter McKearney scored Derrynoose’s third. David Carvill struck over the final point of the half with Middletown dominating 0-12 o 0-3.
This trend continued into the second period with Ryan Gaffney splitting the posts after five minutes but Derrynoose came roaring back in a brilliant three minute spell. Aaron Fox was the driving force behind Derrynoose’s revival and his two long range points were followed by an opportunist goal by Conor McGrory, his shot taking a deflection to swerve into the net.
Carvill settled his side with a pointed free but Fox once again drove his team mates forward with another two points to take Derrynoose within five points of the leaders. A brilliant Ryan Gaffney catch in the centre of the park set up a Martin Moan score as Middletown looked to turn the tide back in their favour.
Once more Derrynoose refused to lie down and a Fintan Corvan goal meant they were now within three points with 13 minutes still to be played. The margin was soon five again however as Middletown stretched ahead with pointed frees coming from Nathan Curry and David Carvill.
Then came the killer blow. A scramble in the Middletown attack saw the ball spill to Nathan Curry who blasted the ball past the keeper and put an end to Derrynoose’s come back. David Carvill added two more points with Middletown now firmly in front, leading my nine points with five minutes remaining.
Fox added to his tally with another long range effort which was soon cancelled out by Carvill after a great fetch in midfield by Ryan Gaffney. Pauric McNaughton and Martin Moan swapped points before Fox flicked home in sides’ third goal but it wasn’t enough to salvage something from the game as Middletown came out on top 1-21 to 3-9.
Middletown: Fintan Woods, Kieran McKernan, Shea Gaffney, Ordhan Curry, Padraig Lappin, Nathan Curry (1-5), Pauric Hughes, Paddy McBride, Tiernan Nevin, David Carvill (0-9), Dean Gaffney (0-1), Mark McClatchey (0-2), Martin Moan (0-2), Ryan Gaffney (0-2), Liam Woods. Subs: Martin Maguire for M. McClatchey, Shaun Toal for N. Curry, Chris McCann for P. McBride, Sean Og McGuinness for R. Gaffney, Nathan Hunt for M. Moan.
Derrynoose: Liam McGrane, Shane McNaughton, Stephen McNaughton, Kevin McKenna, Damian McGrane, Aaron Fox (1-6), Joseph Brennan, Patrick Quinn, Peter McKearney (0-2), Fintan Corvan (1-0), Patrick McGrane, Pearse Lennon, Pauric McNaughton (0-1), Conor McGrory (1-0), Stephen McKearney. Subs: Stephen Keenan for K. McKenna, Cathal McNaughton for S. McNaughton.
