USHC: London & Derry into Semis

Ulster SHC:
Armagh 4-16 London 2-23

London will meet Down next Sunday in the Ulster SHC semi-final following their dramatic win over Armagh at Newry.

Full forward Martin Finn emerged as the hero of the hour, hitting a glorious 14 points haul that included a dramatic winner from a ‘65′ deep into stoppage time.

The sides were level on eight occasions, before the Exiles finally broke Orchard hearts.

A 1-10 tally from Declan Coulter was not enough to save Mattie Lennon’s side from a dramatic defeat.

The sides were level on three occasions in the opening quarter, with sharpshooters Declan Coulter and London’s Martin Finn making it a head to head shoot-out, both showing deadly accuracy from frees.

The Orchard men made hteir first breakthrough in the 18th minute when Coulter crossed from the left for full forward Conor McCann to drill to the net past a helpless Gary McCollum.

Finn continued to show a deadly eye for goal as the Exiles refused to allow the setback to affect their focus, and they had slipped into a two points lead with a John McCarthy point when Armagh struck for a second goal.

This time it was Fiachra Bradley who found the net, striking past McCollum at the second attempt after the ‘keeper had stopped his initial effort.

Three minutes later the sliothar was in the London net again, Coulter the marksman, and his two long range frees helped the men in orange to a 3-10 to 0-13 interval lead.

Kevin McMullan got in for a London goal six minutes into the second half, and when Finn brought his tally into double figures, the deficit had been cut back from six to two.

With the wind in their backs, London grew in confidence, and further scores from Finn and Conor O’Halloran had them level midway through the half.

They were denied the lead when Joseph Burke produced a wonderful save from Mark Mythen, but Finn’s 13th score did ease them in front with 15 minutes to play.

And when substitute Chris McDonnell banged in a 63rd minute goal, the Exiles were in charge, but there was still time for John Corvan to smash home Armagh’s fourth goal, before Finn floated over the winner from a ‘65′ deep into stoppage time.

Armagh: J Burke, P Kirk, E McDonnell, B Mallon, B McCormack, P McCormack, P McArdle (0-1), B McCann, C Christy, C McAlinden (0-1), K McGreevy, F Bradley (1-0), J Corvan (1-0), C McCann (1-1), D Coulter (1-10, 6 frees).
Subs: G Enright (0-2) for McGreevy, C Carville (0-1) for B McCann, N Curry for McArdle

London: G McCollum, B Mulcahy, S McLoughlin, T Simms, E Phelan, N Healy, T Abernethy (0-1), F McMahon, C O’Halloran (0-2), J McCarthy (0-1), S Quinn (0-3), S Malone, K McMullan (1-0), M Finn (0-14, 8 frees, 3 ‘65’s), M Mythen (0-1).
Subs: C McDonnell (1-1) for Malone

Referee: J Devlin (Tyrone).

Wides: Armagh 7, London 2

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Attendance: 400 (approx)

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Ulster SHC Quarter-Final:
Derry 7-23 Monaghan 3-13

Derry progressed to the semi-finals of the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship with a comprehensive victory over Monaghan at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Monaghan started brightly enough but their hopes of victory took a hammer blow nine minutes in when keeper Michael McHugh dropped a Paddy Henry free into the net.

Henry struck again midway through the first half before another mistake from McHugh gifted Oisin McCloskey a goal. Paddy McCloskey added a fourth to help Derry into a 4-11 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Derry were not quite as dominant in the second period but Ruairi Convery, Mark Craig and Sam Dodds all helped themselves to further goals for the Oak Leafers.

However, Monaghan, courtesy of a spirited late rally, managed three of their own, with Brian McGuigan, Ronan Conlan and Stephen Lambe all on target.

However, it was Derry who progressed to the semi-finals where they will meet Antrim on June 1.