Danske Bank Rafferty Cup final: St Ciaran’s Ballygawley 1-13 Holy Trinity Cookstown 0-9
A goal from Thomas Hoy five minutes from time proved to be the decisive score as St Ciaran’s Ballygawley claimed the Danske Bank Rafferty Cup at the expense of Tyrone rivals Holy Trinity Cookstown in an entertaining decider in Galbally yesterday afternoon.
The corner forward bravely flung himself to palm to the net from close range after a high ball in from Jason Doyle had broken into his path. It was a score that finally quelled a determined comeback from Holy Trinity as they had hit five points in a row to close the gap to 0-11 to 0-9.
In the end though St Ciaran’s were worthy winners in what was a fine all round team display with the twin threat of Hoy and Darragh Canavan finishing with 1-9 between them.
In contrast Holy Trinity failed to register a single score from play with Pauraic Lagan and Shane Murphy landing their entire tally between them.
Cormac Donaghy, Murphy (2) and Canavan shared the opening four points before St Ciaran’s got a grip on proceedings. Jason Doyle, Ciaran Traynor and Hoy (2) all registered as they moved 0-6 to 0-2 in front.
In the 17th minute Holy Trinity went close to grabbing a goal but Eugene Og Teague’s shot went just the wrong side of the post.
Lagan fired over a brilliantly struck “45” before a close in Murphy free closed the gap to two. The winners though had the final say of the half when Hoy knocked over a placed ball to give his side a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
Inside thirty seconds of the restart Canavan hit a superb point with his left boot as St Ciaran’s picked up where they had left off.
Canavan, Kyle McMenamin and Canavan again all scored to leave it 0-11 to 0-4 going into the final quarter.
It looked all over bar the shouting at that stage but credit to Holy Trinity for mounting a comeback with Lagan and Murphy scoring frees.
The whole momentum of the game had changed until Hoy swooped for that goal and they closed the game out with a well-taken brace from Canavan.
St Ciaran’s Ballygawley: C McKenna, M Lennon, Conor Quinn, D McCrudden, C Donaghy (0-1), Cathal Quinn, M Owens, J Oguz, D Millar, N Loughran, C Traynor (0-1), K McMenamin (0-1), D Canavan (0-5), J Doyle (0-1), T Hoy (1-4)
Subs: B Quinn for Owens, C Martin for Hoy, J McSorley for Millar
Holy Trinity Cookstown: T McVeigh, T Quinn, C O’Neill, S McKenna, T Mackle, R McLernon, C Holland, E Gallagher, P Lagan (0-4), A Moore, D Bloomer, M Canavan, E Teague, T Canavan, S Murphy (0-5)
Subs: R Mallon for M Canavan, K Robinson for O’Neill, D Canavan for McKenna (black card)
Referee:– N McKenna, Emyvale
