05 April 2012
An injury time goal from Christy McNaughton, brother of Antrim senior star Shane, grabbed the BT Foresters’ Cup from under St Mary’s Belfast ’s nose for St Killian’s Garron Tower at Ballymena yesterday.
St Mary’s were hot favourites for the game, but St Killian’s played with wind advantage during the first half and led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
Sean McCann had scored the goal and McNaughton had chipped in with 4 points, but it looked far from a tough task for St Mary’s who were hurling well against the breeze.
However Paddy Burke was outstanding for St Killian’s as they clung on to the lead with Conor Johnstone eating into it with points for St Mary’s.
Deaglan Murphy put St Mary’s 2 points up after 38 minutes, 0-11 to 1-6, but Ryan Delargy grabbed a goal for the Tower with sub Ryan O’Connor following up with a point.
St Mary’s had the balance of play during the last quarter with St Killian’s defence fighting to stay in the match. However St Mary’s only added another 3 points, 2 from Johnstone, to go one up.
Donn Whelan then soloed up the field and when McNaughton gained possession, he went for broke.
St Mary’s had a late 20 metre free, but St Killian’s put all 15 players on the goal-line and survived.
St Killian’s : P Abram, A O’Neill, C McKillop, R McKillop, S Walsh, P Burke, HP McNeill, D Whelan, N McNaughton, R McIlroy, C Beggs, D McLaughlin 0-1, S McCann 1-1, C McNaughton 1-4, R Delargy 1-0.
Subs : R O’Connor 0-1 for R McKillop, C Leech for R McIlroy.
St Mary’s : D McMenamin, C Walsh, E Shannon 0-1, S Gaskin, C Hanna, G Walsh, P Mervin, G Kelly, N Earley 0-1, S Shannon 0-2, C McVeigh 0-1, L McLarnon, D Murphy 0-3, F Greene, C Johnstone 0-6.
Referee : T McIntyre
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