Double strike in 1st half injury time takes Dungiven to Ennis title

Danske Bank Ennis Cup Final

St Patrick’s Dungiven 6-5 St Patrick’s College Dungannon 3-11
From Kevin Kelly in MUSA
Despite scoring fewer times than their opponents it was St Patrick’s Dungiven’s ability to strike for goals that ultimately proved to be the difference in a cracking Danske Bank Ennis Cup Final at MUSA yesterday afternoon.
Two goals inside 20 seconds at the end of the opening half from Dara McGonigle left Dungiven nine points to the good at the break.
To their credit St Patrick’s Dungannon fought back in the third quarter to get back on level terms and they missed a few chances that would have given them the lead.
The winners made them pay with three further majors and while the Tyrone lads battled gamely until the final whistle they had left themselves with too much to do.
Dungiven got off to a dream start with a first minute goal from impressive full forward Caolan Hazlett but Dungannon responded thanks to points from Kenny Ximenes, Riain McAshea and Jake Dillion.
Shea Millar and Hazlett added points for the winners before they hit those two quick fire goals just before the interval to leave them in the ascendency leading 3-2 to 0-3.
Dillion opened the second half scoring with a point and in the 33rd minute they were right back in contention when Bonamor Nammy palmed the ball to the net. Hazlett and Dillion traded points while Dungiven keeper Brandon Deeney made a good save to deny Ximenes.
Ximenes then blasted in a brilliant goal and when Shea Boyle tagged on a point in the next attack it was all square at 3-4 to 2-7 going into the final quarter. Dungiven were under the cosh at this stage but they broke down the field to win a penalty which Dylan Newland converted. Hazlett added a point but they had keeper Deeney to thank again when he denied Patrick Purvis.
Dungiven always looked dangerous when going forward and a long delivery in from Hazlett saw McGonigle flick to the net to complete his hat-trick.
Dungannon though kept plugging away with Boyle and Purvis providing points either side of a Ximenes goal but when Shea Millar’s dipping shot sailed to the net a minute into injury time it ensured that the silverware was heading to Derry.
St Patrick’s Dungiven: B Deeney, F McIntyre, C Devlin, E Kealey, C Deeney, S Harkin, O McAteer, C Mullan, D McGonigle (3-1), C O’Neill, E McCloskey, S Millar (1-0), C O’Hara, C Hazlett (1-4), D Newland (1-0).
Subs – O Murphy for O’Neill, O Duddy for Millar
St Patrick’s Dungannon: K Kuizinas, A Lobato, P McGuinness, C McGahan, J O’Callaghan, C Hughes, R McAshea, K Ximenes (2-1), R McIntosh (0-3), S Boyle (0-2), P Purvis (0-1), D McCann, J Field, D Hanna, B Nammy (1-1). Subs – J Dillion (0-3) for Hanna, S Gates for Field

Referee: C Forbes