Geehan’s last-gasp strike kicks off Blackhill’s title celebrations

ST Enda’s hurlers secured the Ulster Intermediate title yesterday with a remarkable shoot-out victory over Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon in Celtic Park yesterday.

The Glengormley side battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to level the game.

Three Damien Casey points helped Dungannon retake the lead in the first period of extra-time, but the Tyrone ace had to convert a late free to bring it to a shoot-out after St Enda’s had taken the lead through John McGoldrick (two), Ruairi Donaghy and Killian Jennings.

In a bizarre twist, just one of the nine penalties were converted with skipper Cormac Ross scoring his side’s first penalty after Casey saw his effort saved by Martin Curren.

The St Enda’s shot-stopper saved penalties from Tiernan Morgan, Conor McNally, and Lorcan Devlin while Branan Molloy’s effort flew over the bar.

Philly Curran, McGoldrick and Matthew O’Hare saw their efforts stopped by John Devlin, but it was the Antrim champions who were left to celebrate.

Blackhill Emeralds Buncrana 1-11 0-9

BLACKHILL hit back from the brink to prise the Ulster Club JFC title from the grasp of Buncrana.

Tommy Geehan netted a goal with the last kick of the game to finally put the deal beyond the reach of the Donegal side.

Buncrana were in command for the first half of the game, but lost their way in the dense Omagh fog and scored just once in the second half.

When former Donegal player Darach O’Connor broke their second-half duck, the game was still up for grabs.

O’Connor was also denied by a brilliant save from Blackhill goalkeeper Michael Shevlin with five minutes to go. Shevlin superbly turned O’Connor’s effort around the back after the lively forward had jinked into position.

Buncrana had raced out with 2012 All-Ireland winner Ryan Bradley — back in the starting XV again — among the early scorers.

With Donegal forward Caolan

McGonagle and Jack O’Loughlin arching over points, Buncrana pushed into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

Aeden Stokes arrived up from full-back to stretch the margin and Buncrana were daring to dream.

Donegal sides Naomh Colmcille and Red Hughs had lifted this crown in the last two years and Buncrana’s start was of the perfect variety.

However, Blackhill hit back with Geehan, Hugh Byrne, Paul Finnegan and Andrew Burns kicking four in a row.

By the break, John Campbell and O’Connor helped them to lead by three, 0-8 to 0-5.

Blackhill were a new side in the second half.

Geehan set them on the road as Buncrana fell apart.

Campbell struck the frame of the goal and O’Connor was denied by Shevlin as Blackhill moved into command.

Over eight minutes of added time were played and Geehan put the cherry atop the cake when he drilled past Sean Parker. Blackhill: T Geehan (1f) 1-2, D Daly (2f), P Finnegan, M Geehan, A Burns 0-2 each, H Byrne 0-1

Buncrana: J Campbell (2f) 0-3, D O’Connor 0-2, A Stokes, R Bradley, C McGonagle (’45), J O’Loughlin 0-1 each.