Calry hurlers win 7 in a row.
CALRY/ST. Joseph’s made it seven Senior Hurling Championship titles in a row on Sunday with their 2-15 to 3-10 victory over Western Gaels at Markievicz Park on Sunday afternoon.
Despite Western Gaels holding a three point lead at the interval, Henry Cox’s side dug deep in the second-half, hitting 1-02 after the re-start before the West Sligo men finally started their second-half scoring.
Keith Raymond’s tally of seven points on the day helped him earn the man of the match award, but more importantly assisted his side on their way to a seventh consecutive county title.
The Markievicz Park pitch appeared to have suffered very little impact from Storm Brian and Hurricane Ophelia which reached our shores during the space of a few mere days.
Raymond was the first name on the scoresheet when he hit over with just seconds on the clock, but Barry Keenan’s charges stormed down the other end of the field going ahead thanks to Eamonn Kilgannon’s goal.
The sides exchanged scores before Calry went into the lead thanks to a succession of points from Raymond and Eoin Doherty, but they weren’t going to have it all their own way.
Gaels battle hard and hit over four unanswered points, courtesy of Kilgannon, Joe McHugh, Sean Carrabine and Alan Cawley to take a 1-06 to 0-07 lead before Eolan McCarthy halved Calry’s deficit to just one point.
But Gaels had fire in their bellies and Michael McGowan’s goal in the dying seconds of the first-half was more than welcome - they went in at half-time with a three point lead after Raymond hit over just before the interval.
But the reigning champions came out all guns blazing after the break with David Collery and Raymond hitting over and Brian Shannon scoring past Morgan Fitzsimons on 43 minutes, to take a mere two point lead.
Calry began to really dominate proceedings and despite Cawley hitting a point for Gaels, Cox’s men began an onslaught of sorts.
A goal and point from sub Michael O’Callaghan was followed by points from Collery and Raymond before Gaels could muster up one point thanks to McHugh.
Despite trailing by six points and time very quickly running out, Gaels continued ti fight but everything they did, Calry managed to do as both sides exhanged points into added time.
In the 8th minute of additional time, Joe McHugh beat Declan Reidy in the Calry goal, bringing the scoreline to a more respectable 2-15 to 3-10 in favour of Calry.
Unfortunately for Gaels, who were impressive on the day, there wasn’t enough time to stage the comeback of all comebacks, but perhaps they can take solace in the fact that they rattled the ten time Sligo Senior Hurling Championship winners.
Calry/St. Joseph’s: Declan Reidy, Thomas Kelly, Jamie Kenny, Danny Keown, Fiachra Coyne, Liam Reidy, Daithi Hand (Conor Griffin, 33), Keith Raymond, Michael Gilmartin, Eolan McCarthy, David Collery, Brian Shannon (Darragh Cox, 65), Eoin Doherty (Michael O’Callaghan, 41), Ronan Cox, Kevin Gilmartin.
Western Gaels: Morgan Fitzsimons, Michael Connolly, Gareth Ryan, Tomas Cawley, Fergal Ryan (Hayden Gilroy, 66), Daniel Kirby, James Hynes, Simon Wade (Tom Mahon, 61), Alan Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Liam Ryan (Eanna Moylin, 58), Eamonn Kilgannon, Aidan Morrison (Michael John Crean, 67), Michael McGowan, Joe McHugh.
Referee: John Doyle