Hurlers triumphant in epic

LORY MEAGHER CUP FINAL

SLIGO LANCASHIRE

GLORY finally came to Sligo hurlers in dramatic circumstances in Croke Park last Saturday as they got their hands on the Lory Meagher cup. This was the Yeats men’s third final in four years as Saturday proved third time lucky for Darragh Cox/ Daithí Hand’s men. Kevin Gilmartin was the hero as his injury time goal proved the difference as Lancashire looked like they would upset Sligo in another Lory Meagher cup final but this time lady luck was on the side of Sligo.

Sligo started very well as they went into 2-3- 0-3 lead after 14 minutes of play with two goals coming from Gilmartin, but Lancashire would take control of the remainder of the half with Ronan Crowley coming into the match and he got a goal for his side on 27 minutes as Edmond Kenny tapped the ball down to the Cork native who finished the ball of the net to leave the score 2-6 – 1-7 in favour of Sligo. This was then followed by a point from Crowley from a free and the impressive Kenny who got his side’s second goal of the match, but the sides were level at the break as Sligo got their third goal when Gerard O’Kelly Lynch was fouled, and a penalty was awarded where Eoin Comerford finished to the back of the net to leave the score at the break 3-7 – 2-10.

In a nip and took second half where the scores flowed, and the sides were level on a number of occasions, it looked like the British side would come away with the Lory Meagher cup when they went into a three-point lead with 2 minutes of normal time to play but a free from Comerford kept Sligo in touch. It looked like Lancashire would hold on for the win but a piece of brilliance from Calry/St. Joseph’s Gilmartin ensured Sligo would finally win this year’s Lory Meagher cup. SLIGO: Declan Reidy; James Weir, Conor O’Mahony, Tom Brennan; David Collery, Keith Raymond(0-2,2fs), Niall Feehily; Ronan Cox(0-1), Gary Cadden(0-1); Joe McHugh(0-2), Eoin Comerford(1-5,4fs), Kevin Banks(0-3); Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch(0-1), Kevin Gilmartin(3-0), Larry Cadden.

SUBS: Tony O’Kelly Lynch for Larry Cadden (43), Niall McDermott for Gary Cadden, Kieran Prior for David Collery (56), Matthew Davey for Conor O’Mahony (61), Mark Burke for Niall Feehily (69).

LANCASHIRE: Vincent Morrissey; Liam Knocker, Ross Mullins, Justin Cleere; Daragh O’Brien(0-1), Greg Jacob (c), Nathan Unwin; Stephen Duncan, James Fitzmaurice(0-1); Darren Crowley, Tommy Dunne, JJ Dunphy(0-1); Daire Maskey, Edmond Kenny(1-8), Ronan Crowley(1-9.6fs)

SUBS: Sean Hannon for Tommy Duane (56), Shane Dunne for Stephen Duncan (61), Sean Power for JJ Dunphy (69), Colm Larkin for Daire Maskey (71). REFEREE : Kevin McGeeney (Roscommon).