21 November 2013
St Louis Ballymena advanced to the semi final of the Dankse Bank Loch An Iuir Cup after a 2-9 to 1-8 win over Holy Trinity Cookstown on Thursday in Cargin. Points from Pauric Lagan and Adrian Barrow helped Cookstown into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. By half time, Ballymena were four ahead (1-5 to 0-4), thanks to a Darragh Fagan goal.
A goal from Aaron Moore brought the sides level shortly into the second half. Rian McLarnon helped put the Tyrone lads ahead but St Louis refused to be denied. A goal from Ryan McGarry put the Kintullagh men ahead, and two points from Corey Little sealed the deal.
It was a terrific team performance from the St Louis boys, with everyone contributing to a brilliant victory.
St Louis scorers: Darragh Fagan (1-1), Ryan McGarry (1-0), Ruairi Griffin (0-2), Rory McLarnon (0-2), Corey Little (0-2), Eoin McGuigan (0-1) and Eoghan Daly (0-1).
St Louis Team: Eamonn Elliott, Charlie Henry, Ronan Laverty, Aaaron Crawford, Cormac Lemon, Ruairi Griffin (0-2) Capt, Corey Little (0-2), Eoghan Daly (0-1), Ryan McGarry (1-0), Eoin McGuigan (0-1), Seaan Elliott, Rory McLarnon (0-2), Aaron McNeilly, Darragh Fagan (1-1), Liam McCann.
Subs: Callum McGarry, Ruairi Campbell, Anton McGrath, Eoin Letters, Eoghan McGrath, Liam McKernan,
Holy Trinity Scorers: Aaron Moore (1-2), Rian McLarnon (0-3), Adrian Barrow (0-2) and Pauric Lagan (0-1).
The group stages began with a narrow defeat to Bessbrook. A late St Louis goal helped them beat St Malachy’s Belfast but the Kintullagh boys were convincingly beaten by Ballygawley. It setup a do or die group game with Keady, which St Louis won 2-14 to 1-5 to finish in third place, in what was a group of death. This meant they had to face Holy Trinity who topped their section.
St Louis now play St Patrick’s Downpatrick in the last four. Downpatrick scored an impressive 5-18 in the quarter final win over Strabane, so St Louis will need another big performance to maintain their progress in this competition.
