Seven from Dempsey takes Pat King Cup to Ballybay

Danske Bank Pat King Cup Final
Ballybay CC 1-14 De La Salle Belfast 3-6
Ballybay Community College finished strongly in Newry yesterday to edge out De La Salle Belfast and collect the Danske Bank Pat King Cup for the first time.
Towering full-forward Darragh Dempsey picked up Player of the Match with a personal tally of seven points, five of which came from frees.
Ballybay made a steady start and led by five points after Michael Coyle grabbed a 10th minute goal. However De La Salle hit back with goals from Caoimhin Kennedy and Bailey Carroll and the Belfast side were shading the issue at half time with a lead of 2-4 to 1-6.
Dempsey (2) and Dara McCann edged Ballybay back in front midway through the second half, before De La Salle got going with points from Calvin McCurry and Michael Mervyn although more Dempsey scores had Ballybay in a three points’ lead by the 54th minute.
Caoimhin Kennedy then fired in his second goal to level the game but Ballybay held their nerve and sub James McAdam and Aaron Hamilton floated over the match-winning scores as Daragh McElearney and Eoin Duffy upped their game in defence.
Ballybay CC : J Roe, R Duffy, T McPhillips, D McElearney, J Slevin, E Duffy, J Hughes, J Sniauksta, S Slevin 0-2, A Hamilton 0-1, D McCann 0-1, P Quinn, M Coyle 1-1, D Dempsey 0-7, 0-5 frees, T Keenan 0-1.
Subs : J McAdam 0-1 for T Keenan.
De La Salle : S Saunders, M Ferris, D Flynn, P McPeake, R Devine, C McCurry 0-3 frees, P Gilbride Smyth, C Kennedy 2-0, B Johnston 0-1, D Maguire, M Mervyn 0-1, A Mulligan, P Gorman, M Murphy, B Carroll 1-1.
Subs: N McGuigan for M Murphy, C O’Hara for R Devine.
Referee : Seamus O’Neill (Armagh)

Patrick King, a Year 12 student in St Colman’s College and grandson of former Tyrone star Pat King, presents the Danske Bank Pat King Cup to Ballybay captain Patrick Quinn