Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final
Inniskeen 0-13 Castleblayney 1-9 10/8/13
Inniskeen won the Senior Hurling Championship for the second time in their history when they produced a storming finish to pip Castleblayney in Saturday’s final at Clontibret. Having led by a point at half-time, Castleblayney struck for an early second-half goal through Stephen Forde and although Inniskeen stayed in touch, the defending champions looked poised for victory when a brace of frees from goalkeeper Mickey McHugh gave them a two-point lead inside the last three minutes. There was still time, however, for Ronan Meegan to hit three more points, which took his tally to 0-11 and won the game for Inniskeen by the narrowest of margins. The Grattans, who won their only previous title by the same margin against Blayney in 2010, had Ronan and Paul Meegan, Pauric Dowdall, Séamus Loftus and Trevor Hilliard to thank for their victory, while Jim McHugh, Paddy Finnegan, Eoin Leonard and Stephen Forde led Blayney’s challenge.
Castleblayney started strongly, with Fergal Rafter converting a 30-metre free for a foul on Brian McGuigan and Gary Boyd adding a point from play, but Ronan Meegan won and scored a brace of 40-metre frees to bring Inniskeen level. Martin Murphy edged Inniskeen ahead with a good point from play, only for Rafter to reply from a pair of 30-metre frees, following fouls on Boyd and McGuigan. A Stephen Forde point doubled Blayney’s lead, but Ronan Meegan again won and scored a free to leave Inniskeen trailing by just a point at half-time: 0-5 to 0-4.
Ronan Meegan landed a free from the left wing after a foul on Dónal Meegan to bring Inniskeen back on level terms, but Blayney then struck for the game’s only goal when Forde got on the end of a move involving Mark Treanor and Jerry Brady to beat Gerard Ruddy. Inniskeen rallied swiftly with a point from play by Kevin Crawley and a 25-metre free by Ronan Meegan, following a foul on Trevor Hilliard. Rafter hit his fourth point from a 35-metre free after a foul on Boyd and substitute Tony Forde then added his name to the scoresheet, but Ronan Meegan brought Inniskeen back to within a point when he tapped over a brace of 20-metre frees, following fouls on himself and Hilliard.
Meegan added a well-taken point to level it up, but fouls on McGuigan and Barry Reilly allowed Mickey McHugh to power over two long-range frees and give Blayney what looked to be a decisive advantage. Inniskeen refused to throw in the towel, as Ronan Meegan won and scored a 40-metre free, before equalising from a 50-metre free after a foul on Hilliard. Blayney were reduced to 14 men in added time when Cormac McNally was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Dónal Meegan, giving Ronan Meegan the chance to pop over the winning point.
There were jubilant scenes afterwards as Inniskeen captain Ronan Meegan accepted the Mick Quigley Cup from county chairman Paul Curran.
Inniskeen: G Ruddy; Colm Meegan, P Dowdall, P Garland; P Meegan, P Brooks, S Loftus; T Hilliard, K Crawley (0-1); PJ Boyle, R Meegan (Capt., 0-11, 10f), M Murphy (0-1); J Dooley, D McGahon, D Meegan.
Subs: N Butler for Dooley (38 mins), S Shevlin for McGahon (43).
Castleblayney: M McHugh (0-2f); E Leonard, P Finnegan, P Collins; B Flanagan, P Treanor, J McHugh; J Lacey, M Treanor; F Rafter (0-4f), B McGuigan (Capt.), S Forde (1-1); B Reilly, J Brady, G Boyd (0-1).
Subs: D Crowe for Lacey (H-T), C McNally for Collins (35), T Forde (0-1) for Brady (42).
Referee: J McAndrew (Monaghan Harps HC).
By cshalvey Sat 10th Aug
