Danske Bank Leonard Cup quarter-final: St Louis Ballymena 3-10 Rathmore Grammar 2-11
RATHMORE Grammar came within minutes of reaching their first Grade A hurling semi-final in Jordanstown yesterday. They led St Louis', Ballymena by two points with 57 minutes gone in this Danske Bank Leonard Cup quarter-final only for Caolán McCollum to score a late goal and even later point to deny them a famous victory.
The game was evenly contested from start to finish with McCollum, Eddie Smyth, Fiontan Bradley and Aaron Doherty working hard to get Ballymena over the line and into next week’s semi-final with St Patrick’s Maghera, while Aidan McDonagh, Jay Ward, and all four scorers did well for Rathmore.
Bradley was a first half goal-scorer for St Louis but they trailed at the interval 1-6 to 1-3 thanks to a goal from Noah Dunlop and some good points from Donncha McGurk and Chris Robb.
Rathmore continued to make the running and when McCollum edged Ballymena closer with a goal in the third quarter, Rónán Taylor responded with another green flag and the city side looked like holding until McCollum ruined the script.
The last quarter-final, between St Mary’s CBGS and St Killian’s takes place today (1pm, Dunsilly) with the winner playing Cross & Passion, Ballycastle in next week’s semi-final.
Ballymena: C McCollum 2-3, F Bradley 1-4, J McGarry 0-1, E Molly 0-1, S McMullan 0-1
Rathmore: R Taylor 1-2, N Dunlop 1-1, D McGurk 0-5, C Robb 0-3
