It’s Hurling Championship final time and the Junior, Intermediate and Senior trophies are up for grabs this weekend.
Junior Championship final
Middletown II v St Malachy’s – Sat 11 – 3pm – Ballymacnab
These two sides couldn’t be separated when they clashed in the Junior Championship final three weeks ago. Both had chances to come out on top, but a share of the spoils was probably the fairest result.
James Hamill was the main man for St Malachy’s and claimed 1-4 while Joseph Breen chipped in with 2-1. Joe McKeever, Mairtin Creaney and Eoin Livingstone also got on the scoresheet for the Portadown men.
Charlie Lennon was the top scorer for Middletown the last day out, hitting 1-4. Chrisopher McCann also claimed a goal while full back Paddy McArdle, who claimed a late score that looked like the winner, caught the eye as well.
Intermediate Championship final
Killeavy v Cuchulainns – Sat 12 – 2pm – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
It’s only a few weeks since these two teams clashed in the final round of the SHC group stages. Just two-points separated the sides by the end of proceedings, with Cuchulainns winning 2-19 to 1-20.
Cuchulainns have rattled off ten goals in their last four championship outings, a stat Killeavy will be wary of. Lee Murtagh is one of the main men up top for Cuchulainns, who hammered St Malachy’s in the semi-final.
Killeavy had a tougher route to the decider, eventually shaking off the challenge of Sean Treacy’s. The likes of Connor Hannaway and Joe O’Connor will be the main men for the Killeavy side.
Senior Championship final
Keady v Middletown – Sat 12 – 4.15pm – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
Keady have competed in the last six championship deciders against Middletown but have come up short each time. Middletown on the other hand have been the dominant force in the county and are chasing seven in a row.
A late Cahal Carvill goal was ultimately the difference 12 months ago and was one of only three scores Middletown got from play. Keady were the better side on display but just came up short, losing 1-12 to 0-13.
Carvill was again to the fore as Middletown hammered Craobh Rua in the semi-final, hitting 2-5 from play. Dean Gaffney top scored with 0-12 while Ryan Gaffney, Martin Moan and Sean Og McGuinness also hit the net.
Keady enjoyed a similar one-sided semi-final as they destroyed Derrynoose. Jack Loughran rattled off a hattrick of goals while Conor Corvan (0-9) and John Corvan (0-3) shared 0-12 between them.
