Kirk Cup

Danske Bank Kirk Cup Final ?
Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 2-13
St. Mary’s Magherafelt 1-07
DESPITE scoring just two points in the opening half of this Danske Bank Kirk Cup final in Ballinascreen yesterday evening, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire still convincingly won their third Ulster schools’ hurling title since the turn of the year.
Although the holders St Mary’s held the eventual winners to a point in the first minute and another in the 30th, they didn’t take advantage of the strong breeze behind them in the first half.
Magherafelt hit seven wides, four of them from frees, during that period and only led by 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time. Lorcan McDonnell (two frees), James Sargent and Patrick Birt accounted for their scores.
Gaelcholáiste put them on the back foot in the opening minutes of the second half and there looked only one likely winner from the 35th minute.
Ger Ó Diolúin landed a free and from the poc out a long ball was played down the middle leaving Jude Ó Conaire with an easy goal chance that he buried.
Ó Diolúin landed another free before cutting in from the right corner to hit the roof of the net.
The Dungiven school had moved to 2-6 to 0-4 before Birt and Sargent got in a reply – a point each from frees. But Cathal Ó Mianáin then started a run of five points in four minutes to make it 2-11 to 0-6.
There was a consolation goal for the Convent when McDonnell fired home a lose ball in the 50th minute.
But there was to be no dramatic comeback and Ger Ó Diolúin pointed twice in added time to bring his personal tally to 1-8 and complete a remarkable three months for the school in hurling.
Gaelcholáiste: G Ó Diolúin (1-8, 0-5 frees), J Ó Conaire (1-0), D Mac Con Midhe (0-2), C Ó Mianáin (0-1 free), F Ó Muirí (0-1), D Ó Lochlainn (0-1)
St Mary’s: L McDonnell (1-2, 0-2 frees), J Sargent (0-3, 2 frees), P Birt (0-2, 1 free)