AIB Ulster Club IHC Final
Lisbellaw 0-15
Éire Óg Carrickmore 1-18
Éire Óg, Carrickmore finally realised a long-held dream as they captured the AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Hurling crown on an emotion-filled afternoon in Clones.
After defeats in their previous three provincial finals, the Tyrone champions banished years of heartache with a powerful and assured performance, fuelled by unrelenting hunger and belief.
Veteran forward Aidy Kelly, appearing in his fourth Ulster decider, delivered a remarkable 11-point haul. His accuracy and composure helped erase painful memories of past losses to St John’s in 2010, Creggan in 2015 and Setanta just last year.
Lisbellaw, Ulster champions in 2012, struggled to contain Éire Óg’s intensity from the outset. Carrickmore’s early dominance stemmed from midfield control, where Francie Hurson and Cormac Munroe excelled, supplying quick, quality ball to their forwards. Kelly, Conn Sweeney, Shea Munroe and Aidan Woods all contributed as Éire Óg raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead by the first quarter.
Two more Kelly frees stretched the margin to seven by the 20th minute, but Lisbellaw responded impressively. Manager Davey Teague turned to his bench, and the Fermanagh men rallied with six of the final seven points of the half. Sean Corrigan, John Duffy, Ciaran Corrigan and Caolan Duffy all found their range to cut the deficit to 0-10 to 0-8 at the break.
However, substitute Sean Óg Grogan swung the momentum firmly back Éire Óg’s way shortly after the restart. First he set up Sweeney for a point, then struck the game’s only goal on 39 minutes, restoring a six-point cushion.
With Munroe commanding in defence and their back line tightening further, Éire Óg pushed on. Kelly remained flawless from placed balls, and while Lisbellaw battled gamely through Duffy and McBrien, they could not bridge the gap. The Tyrone men led by as much as nine, and a late Lisbellaw surge never threatened the outcome.
At last, Éire Óg’s day had arrived.
