North Antrim derby in Leonard Cup final
Danske Bank Br. Leonard Cup final
Friday – 1pm in Armoy
Cross & Passion Ballycastle v St Louis Ballymena
The third grade A Colleges’ hurling title of the season will, like the two that were completed before Halloween, rest in north Antrim.
After the Mageean Cup returned to St Louis Ballymena after a gap of 27 years, and the MacNamee title to Garron Tower after 26 barren years, the Br Leonard Cup final will be fought out this afternoon in Armoy (1pm) between St Louis and Cross and Passion Ballycastle.
The latter are the clear favourites for the competition having collected all three of the titles they competed for down the school.
They have also gone through this competition undefeated and that includes a five points winning margin over St Louis in the league three weeks ago.
They followed that up with a win over St Killian’s and then a 2-11 to 1-3 semi-final victory over St Patrick’s Keady.
Team captain Ryan Hill, Michael McGarry, Conor McBride and the McAuley brothers Seamus and Oisin have been the driving forces behind Ballycastle and St Louis will have to do something special to stop them collecting the title.
St Louis though have been breaking the mould this season with that Mageean title, despite no success in the big competitions for the team through the school.
Seaan Elliott played a huge part in the Mageean success and he is the key forward in this Leonard Cup bid as well, top-scoring in each game.
Cormac McFadden is strong at the back and Oisin McErlaine and Eoghan Daly getting through a lot of work to set Elliott up for scoring chances.
Cross and Passion will probably double-team Elliott and that will put pressure on the rest of the Ballymena team to fill the gaps.
However their defence will be well occupied in keeping tabs on McGarry, McBride and Hill, should he get a role on the attacking end of midfield.
Ballycastle are favourites, but Ballymena have closed the gap. The question is can the mid-Antrim boys tilt a close game in their favour.
Cross & Passion : Ronan McAllistair, Cormac Donnelly, Tiernan McGlynn, Cathal Hargan, Sean Brogan, Oisin McAuley, Ryan Hill, Colum Butler, Ciaran McKeague, Emmet O Hara, Paul Boyle, Ryan McFarlane, Seamus McAuley, Michael McGarry, Conor McBride
Subs : Gary Maybin, Lorcan Donnelly, Ryan Dallas, Ciaran McKay, Conor Watterson, Tiernan Smyth, Ronan Laverty
Subs : G Maybin, L Donnelly, R Dallas, C McKay, C Watterson, T Smyth, R Laverty
St Louis: Adam Mooney, Shane O’Boyle, Cormac McFadden, Padraig McGilligan, Rian McCann, Oisin McErlaine, Eoghan Daly, Eoin McCusker, Eoghan McGrath, Seaan Elliot, Rory Mullan, Corey Little, Declan McCloskey, Shaun O’Neill
