Ulster Club Hurling Finals Round-Up
Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship Final:
Dunloy (Antrim) 2-16 Ballycran (Down) 2-11
Antrim’s Dunloy won the AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship for the tenth time as they saw off Down’s Ballycran by 2-16 to 2-11 at Casement Park on Sunday.
Simon Wilson scored an early point against the breeze for Ballycran but it proved not to be a sign of things to come as they were quickly five points behind.
Dunloy led 0-8 to 0-4 coming up to the break as their dominance continued, two more Wilson points and one from Conor Arthurs all the Down men had to show for their efforts. However, Aidan Clarke salvaged a goal just before the break for Ballycran as he fired past Gareth McGhee at the Dunloy goalkeeper’s near post.
Points from Arthurs, Wilson and Conor Woods then put Ballycran ahead, only for the Antrim men to restore their lead with a Paddy Richmond goal, the Saffron County attacker collecting a long ball from McGhee before raising the green flag.
Poor goalkeeping allowed Wilson to score a second goal for Ballycran from distance, but Sean Dowds quickly got Dunloy’s second as his sideline ball caught out goalkeeper Declan Ennis and went in off the underside of the bar. From there his side held on to seal the Ulster throne.
—
Ulster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Final:
St Galls (Antrim) 5-11 Middletown (Armagh) 0-12
Antrim champions St Galls strolled to a 14 point victory over Armagh’s Middletown in Pairc Esler on Sunday,
Sean McAreavey was the hero for the Belfast men, scoring 4-04 of his sides total, with the 4 goals coming in a 10 minute spell to effectively end the challenge of the Armagh men.
This was St Galls first Ulster Hurling Championship title, and is even more significant given the fact that a lot of the players are also involved in the St Galls football panel, who are also playing in the Ulster Senior Football Championship.
—
Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship Final:
Rasharkin (Antrim) 2-14 Naomh Colum Cille (Tyrone) 4-10
In the curtain raiser to the Senior Hurling final at Casement Park, Naomh Colum Cille clinched their first Ulster Junior Hurling Championship title thanks to a Paul O’Neill goal 2 minutes from full time.
Rasharkin had held a 1-07 to 1-06 lead at half time thanks to a Darren O’Boyle goal, with Seamy Hagan raising the green flag for Naomh Colum Cille.
The second half continued to be a nip-and-tuck affair, with Rasharkin claiming another goal through Diarmaid Quinn, and Paul O’Neill and Niall O’Neill (penalty) hitting the net for the Tyrone champions.
Rasharkin looked to have sealed the victory as they edged a point in front with time running out, however Naomh Colum Cille full forward Paul O’Neill scored the decisive goal in the dying minutes to spark glorious celebrations for the Tyrone men.
