Northern Bank Derry SFC Final: Bellaghy 1-13 Lavey 2-5
AS the sun split the stones, Bellaghy’s 19-year-old academic ace, Gavin Diamond, displayed terrific firepower to score six points and inspire Wolfe Tones to their 18th Derry championship title at Celtic Park yesterday.
He was deadly accurate from frees, posting four in the first half, a further two during Bellaghy’s third quarter blitz which killed off their arch rivals.
In a powerful period of possession football, and expert use of long-ball tactics on the back of a fresh breeze, Bellaghy secured victory and an Ulster Club first round clash with Castleblayney on October 4.
During a 13-minute period the boys in blue took charge, four points without reply building a 0-11 to 1-4 lead, and Lavey were never at the races after that.
A game played in searing heat, this also took its toll, the pace of the match never too high, with players visibly struggling in the latter stages.
Bellaghy though will have no complaints and will hope that yesterday will prove a sort of championship talisman.
After their last title shoot-out with Lavey they went on to win their only All-Ireland.
They now aim for what will be a remarkable double, with the provincial qualifiers top of the agenda from October 4.
Gavin Diamond was deservedly selected as yesterday’s man-of-the-match.
Bellaghy: K O’Neill (capt), P Downey, D O’Neill, Peter Diamond, K Diamond (1-1), C McNally, Paul Diamond (0-1), D Quinn, J Mulholland (0-1), G Diamond (0-6), B Lee, D Cassidy (0-1), E Cassidy (0-2), C Scullion, J Cassidy (0- 1).
Subs: L McPeake for Scullion (43), C Diamond for Paul Diamond (59). Lavey: M Hasson, F Scullion, K McCloy, B Scullion, J McGurk, H Downey, Ciaran McGurk, G Doyle (1-0), O Collins (0-1), G Cushnahan, B McCormick (capt) (0-2), M McCormick, Colm McGurk, S Downey (0-2), F Rafferty (1-0).
Subs: P McVeigh for B Scullion (29), D Doherty for H Downey (40), P Scullion for Colm McGurk (60).
Referee: A O’Neill (Banagher)
Attendance: 6,000.
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Armagh SFC Final Crossmaglen Rangers 2-16 Madden 0-9
Madden unable to get over Crossmaglen's gulf in class
FORMER All-Ireland Champions Crossmaglen fulfilled their three in a row dream, totally outmanoeuvring minnows Madden at the Athletic Grounds yesterday.
Madden’s aspirations of a first ever senior title were painfully melted in the sweltering heat.
Both Ranger’s goals came from the penalty spot – one in each half – tucked away by top scored Oisin McConville who was easily man of the match. The holders strolled to a 1-12 to 0-4 lead.
They appeared to take their foot of the pedal in the second half in which it took them 14 minutes to register.
But it was a score well worth waiting on, a fine piece of individuality from Jim McConville, who time out of number linked up sweetly with his younger brother to tear the Madden rearguard to shreds. All but three of the Rangers tally came from their industrious three quarter line of Cahill Short, Anthony Cunningham, and Oisin McConville which had tormented Madden in the first-half.
Madden had a brief revival in the third quarter scoring three points but that was it.
Their keeper Kevin Grimley pulled off a number of fine saves and was also unfortunate with both penalties.
Crossmaglen: P Hearty, M Califf, D Mutrtagh, C Dooley, F Shields, J Fitzpatrick, G McShane, J McEntee, F Bellew, C Short (0-2), A Cunningham (0-4) Oisin McConville (2-6), J McConcillle (0-3), G Cumiskey, C O’Neill.
Subs: A McEntee (0-1) for Short 49 minutes, M McShane for G McShane 53 minutes, C Hughes for C O’Neill 57 minutes.
Madden: K Grimmley, D Gordon, S Strain, J Moore, B Vallely, S McElvenna, Jim Moore, D Donnelly, B Grimmely (0-4), Tony McElvenna, M Grimmley, K McElvenna, S Smith (0-1), G Grimmley (0-4), Joe Smith.
Subs: Frankie Smith for Johnny Moore 34 minutes, G Comiskey for Vallely 34 minutes, J Woods for F Smith 49 minutes.
Ref: E Nugent, Maghery.
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AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final Down 1-12 Cork 1-8
Down end their All-Ireland jinx
DOWN’S frustrations with the All-Ireland Camogie championship are over but how they made their supporters sweat in yesterday’s final in Pairc Ui Rinn.
Over the hour Down managed to clock up 16 wides – eight in each half while the home side shot three.
It was Down’s poor shooting which kept the game in the boiling pot for so long.
Cork exerted a lot of pressure in the final 10 minutes but Terese McGovern and her defence held tight and Down finished worthy winners of Corn Puirseil for the first time.
Defence was solid with Donna Greenan, Edel Mason and Pauline Green superb.
There will be big chances in camogie next year with the switch to 15-a-side. Many counties will take time to get it right in the new system. This young Down side looks well equipped to adapt to the larger pitch and, of course, senior camogie.
Down: T McGovern, D Greenan, P Greene, E Mason, D Savage, C Hynds (capt), N Magee, V Hynds (0-1), Jennifer Braniff (0-1), Mairin McAleenan (0-7), J Henderson (0-2), Claire McGrath (0-1).
Subs: C Cunningham for C McGrath (46), C Mulholland for Edel Mason (59).
Cork: G Casey, E Dineen, J Hannon, H Walsh, C Giltinen, E O’Sullivan, M Corkery, S Heyes, Sinead Cahalane (capt) (0-1), E Burke, C Harte (0-7), O O’Donaghue. Subs: O O’Sullivan E Burke 40 minutes, Tina Roche for S heyes 51 minutes.
Referee: B Philips
