Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor Club Hurling Shield semi-final: St Eunan’s Letterkenny (Donegal) 3-5 Craobh Chiaráin (Armagh) 0-12
A LATE goal, kicked over the line by substitute Lorcán Bradley, gave St Eunan’s, Letterkenny an unlikely victory in the Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor Club Hurling Shield semi-final on a wet and slippery pitch in Ballinascreen on Wednesday evening.
The Donegal champions progress to next Wednesday’s Shield final at 1pm where they will meet Éire Óg from Carrickmore. The winner of that game then moves into the Cup semi-final with Down champions Bredagh on New Year’s Eve.
St Eunan’s had the better start with goals from corner forwards Matthew Callaghan and Neil Ó Baoghaill helping them to a four-points lead at the break, 2-4 to 0-6.
Craobh Chiarán, a combination team from Middletown and Derrynoose, dominated the play during the second half with Rory Grimes and Caionn Hughes central figures. The pair scored a number of points to take the Armagh side into a 0-12 to 2-5 lead as the clock ticked down.
St Eunan’s had struggled to get the ball out of their own half for most of the second half hour, but Bradly came off the bench to snatch a very late winning goal to take them through to the next stage
Others to feature strongly were the captains David Horgan and JJ Gormley, while Ryan Taylor and Paddy Lynch were very busy for Craobh Chiarán and Brendan Gaffey, Neil Ó Baoghaill and John Kealy impressed for St Eunan’s.
St Eunan’s: D McGranaghen, J Duddy, J Patton, K Barr, J Dooher, D Farrelly, T Dooher, S Browne, D Horgan capt., J Kealy (0-1), S Grieves (0-1), B Gaffney (0-3), N Ó Baoighill (1-0), R Browne, M Callaghan (1-0).
Subs: L Bradley (1-0) for M Callaghan, C Haran for S Grieves.
Craobh Chiarán: D Hughes, C Dobbin, C Hughes (0-2), J Woods, J Duffy, JJ Gormley capt., R Gaffney, S Burke, C Fox, S óg McNaugthon, R Grimes (0-6), C McArdle, R Taylor (0-1), J McGuinness, P Lynch (0-3.
Referee: A Nash (Derry).