Knock out blow from Hughes in Kirk final

Danske Bank Kirk Cup Hurling Final
Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock 2-16 St Mary’s Magherafelt 1-6
CENTRE forward Sean Hughes delivered the knock-out blows as Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock collected the Danske Bank Kirk Cup in Mallusk yesterday afternoon.
The Bredagh club man was in magnificent form for Knock firing over ten points in what ended up a comfortable victory over St Mary’s Magherafelt.
He was well supported by Ciaran McMullan at the heart of the defence and midfield duo Rory Corcoran and Liam Hughes with Mel Laverty effective at snuffing out danger.
St Mary’s entered the game with high hopes of a first victory at this level, but soon found themselves on the back foot and their most effective players were all in defence – Joe McAteer, John McAllister, James O’Connor and Ronan Kalla.
Hughes pointed six times in the opening half as Knock took a 0-10 to 1-1 interval lead, Ethan Carey-Small scrambling home the Magherafelt goal to give them a glimmer of hope.
However that hope disappeared in the five minutes after the break when Sean Hughes’ point between two well-taken goals from Ultan Curran put Knock out of reach.
After those killer punches though the second half turned out to be evenly contested both in terms of general play and indeed on the score-board where each team recorded five points in the last 25 minutes.
However there was little doubting that the south-east Belfast seat of learning was the superior team, landing a first hurling title for successful camogie coach Catherine McGourty.
Knock : T Davis, M Lavery, D Kelly, E Bell, P McAreavey, C McMullan, O O’Connor, L Hogan 0-2, R Corcoran, E Pucci 0-2, S Hughes 0-10, 0-4 frees, O McDermott, J McDonnell 0-2, U Curran 2-0, J Clarke.
Subs : J McCollum for E Bell (45)
St Mary’s : S McAuley, J McAllister, D Scullion, J McAteer, J O’Connor, R Kalla 0-2, 0-1 free, D Hinfey, J Higgins, E Higgins capt. 0-1, P McEldowney, C McCamphill, S Duffin 0-1, J Cassidy 0-2, 0-1 free, S Lagan, E Carey-Small 1-0.
Subs : D Mulholland for D Hinfey (25), R Lynn for P McEldowney (41),