Leadon Timber Frame Hurling Championship
Banagher 1-18
Ballinascreen 0-12
By Alan Gunn
IN THE end, nine points separated the sides but this was far from a nine-point game as Banagher confirmed their place in the senior championship semi-finals on Sunday afternoon.
With under two minutes remaining just two points separated the sides as Darragh Cartin stood over a free, one he converted for his 10th point of the day and when substitute Oisin McCloskey struck for the only goal of the game, the contest was over. A win for either side would have seen them snatch that semi-final spot in the group behind Slaughtneil, the eventual winners holding off a brave second half performance from the hosts. However, Screen will look back on their 10 wides and the fact they could not get back on level terms in the second half, each time Cartin and the visitors always able to respond.
Despite playing into a strong wind, Banagher led at the interval 0-11 to 0-6, Cartin with six of those points. The visitors were sharper, their first touch better and they used the long ball into space to cut holes in the Ballinascreen defence. They isolated Sean McCullagh and he had a great battle with Jamielee McGlade, the Screen fullback holding his own despite the wide open spaces McCullagh had to run into. Meanwhile, the home side failed to make use of the wind and on too many occasions unforced errors let them down with their touch deserting them and gifted Banagher valuable possession that they were left to pay for.
The opening score was a gift for Callum O’Kane with a poor clearance straight to the unmarked Banagher man. Points from Reece McSorley and the very lively Paul Cleary edged the Screen men in front on 3 minutes but five in-a- row had the visitors in the ascendancy by the 14th minute. Cartin contributing four of these including one from play while McCullagh and Ciaran Lynch rowed in with the other ones.
Cormac Gough landed a superb free from his own 65 for a much needed score but a beauty from Cartin with a snap shot over the shoulder quickly had the lead back to five. Niall Doyle and Cleary combined for a score from the latter but three in-a-row saw Banagher stretch the advantage. The final say of the half was to be two from the home side and a boost as they headed for the dressing room.
They almost got the perfect start to the second half within 20 seconds when a James McDaid effort dropped short but was expertly caught by Martin Bradley but as he lost the hurl he had to turn to the boot to try and kick the slitter to the net which was well blocked. Screen looked up for it and they were rewarded with the four opening points of the half, Cleary (3) and McDaid all on target. They also hit two wides in that period of dominance as they reduced the deficit to the minimum.
Cartin landed the visitors’ first of the half on 43 minutes and he was to punish the hosts each time their indiscipline let them down. He added another to move the lead out to three. That was back to two with Cleary (2) and Cartin on target again five minutes from time. With the clock ticking towards the 59th minute Cartin raised the white flag again and then the result was confirmed when McCloskey was on hand to fire to the net after Shane Murphy had dropped one short. The flattering final score was soon to be nine with McCloskey and two from Brian Og McGilligan following.
The result will send Banagher through to face Swatragh in the semi-final while Slaughtneil will face Kevin Lynch’s in the other last four clash. For Ballinascreen, who won the Intermediate title last year, their championship will now turn the junior campaign with a semi-final clash against Eoghan Rua.
Team and Scorers
Banagher: Darragh Cartin 0-10 (7f, 1 ’65), Oisin McCloskey 1-1, Brian Og McGillian and Callum O’Kane 0-2 each, Sean McCullagh, Ciaran Lynch and Gabriel Farren 0-1 each.
Ballinascreen: Paul Cleary 0-7 (4f), Cormac Gough 0-2 (f), James McDaid, Martin Bradley and Reece McSorley 0-1 each.
Banagher: Darrel McDermott; Jack Lynch, Ruair McCloskey, Cathair McGilligan; Darragh McCloskey, Brian Og McGilligan, Gabriel Farren; Shane Murphy, Steafab McCloskey; Callum O’Kane, Fiontan McGilligan, Keelan O’Kane; Ciaran Lynch, Sean McCullagh, Darragh Martin.
Subs: Cathal O’Kane for K O’Kane (41), Niall Farren for Callum O’Kane and Oisin McCloskey for S McCullagh (both 50), Niall Beggs for C Lynch (56).
Ballinascreen: Deirig McDaid; Ciaran McBride, Jamielee McGlade, Andy McBride; Cormac Michael Gough, Ryan Scullion, Ciaran Doyle; Aaron Kelly, James McDaid; Eamon Conway, Niall Doyle, Paul Cleary; Conor Murtagh, Reece McSorley, Martin Bradley.
Subs: Dean Flanagan for J McDaid (44), Caolan Connery for N Doyle (54), Ruairi McWilliams for R Scullion (56).
Referee: Owen Elliott.
