Super Setanta strike late to down Middletown and seal Ulster IHC final spot 

Gerard Gilmore lofted over a fifth-minute injury-time winner as Setanta dramatically edged out Middletown in Owenbeg to seal their spot in the Ulster IHC decider. 

Middletown 0-13 Setanta 1-11

On a wet and miserable evening, both sides served up a brilliant opening half of hurling that the Armagh champions just shaded 0-10 to 0-8. 

Middletown then opened up a four-point cushion near the end of the third quarter and you wondered if the Cross men were on the verge of capitulation. But they’d dig deep to pull it back to two. 

And with Josh McGee Cronolly stepping up just when his side needed it most to crack in a superb three-pointer, Setanta led for the very first time, 1-10 to 0-12. 

Back at the outset, a clash of colours meant both sides turned out in their respective county kits and it was the Orchard men that exploded out of the blocks, going four clear inside the first six minutes. 

Ben Toal grabbed a pair of those while Ryan Gaffney and Martin Moan were also on the mark for Middletown. Setanta’s first effort was struck at goal by McGee Cronolly but that shot was well saved by Fintan Woods. 

On seven minutes, Sean Ward had the Donegal champions up and running but it remained a four-point game with Rory Grimes making it 0-5 to 0-1 soon after. 

Still, Setanta settled and almost raised a green flag when Gilmore telegraphed Middletown’s puck out and raced in front the left. He only had one thing on his mind but his flashed effort just went the wrong side of the post. 

Still, nearing the quarter hour mark and efforts from Bernard Lafferty and Gilmore pulled it back to two. 

Two brilliant and quickfire blocks from Conor Gallen then helped Setanta counter and with Gilmore winning and converting from a placed ball, the bare minimum now split the teams. 

Things got even better for Setanta on 17 minutes when Declan Coulter made his presence felt for the first time and, in the process, squared it up.  Sean Óg McGuinness and Oisin Marley swapped points before Middletown again took a two-point lead as Toal and Grimes registered.

Gilmore, after being off cue twice, steadied the Setanta ship momentarily but a Gaffney free left it 0-9 to 0-7 ticking into the red. 

And with the same player floating over another free on the stroke of half-time to move his side into double figures, two points split matters at the break.  

Gaffney bagged another pair of frees right at the start of the second stanza and while they were a little slower to get going, when they eventually did, Setanta’s Gilmore matched that feat. 

Nearing the end of what was a placid enough third quarter the game reignited once again as McGee Cronolly hammered the back of the Middletown net. 

It was a brilliantly ambitious effort but it was one that paid off as his side took the lead for the very first time, 1-10 to 0-12.

Moan would again tie it up on 52 minutes in a duel that was now going right down to the wire. Then, on  59 minutes Toal, under duress from a number of Setanta defenders, went down easily inside the area. 

After some deliberation with his umpires, the man in the middle eventually pointed to the spot. Kevin Campbell to his credit, stood to his extreme right daring Gaffney to go to the left. 

The Armagh man took the bait but drove his effort wide of the foot of the far post as Setanta survived. Gilmore, from a free, as well as Marley both passed up on late, late chances to again nudge their side ahead. 

But into the last minute of five added on, Gilmore struck the decisive blow. 

Gaffney had one last ditch chance from a free, from distance, to force extra-time but while he had the range that strike tailed just wide at the decisive moment. 

Middletown scorers: Ryan Gaffney 0-5,5f; Ben Toal 0-3; Nathan Curry 0-2; Martin Moan 0-2; Sean Óg McGuinness 0-1,1f.

Setanta scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-6,5f; Josh McGee Cronolly 1-0; Declan Coulter 0-1; Sean Ward 0-1; Ruairi Campbell 0-1;  Bernard Lafferty 0-1; Oisin Marley 0-1

Middletown: Fintan Woods; Kieran McKiernan, Tiarnan Nevin, Paudie Lappin; Jake Toal, Paul Gaffney, Odhran Curry; Paddie McBride, Pedar McBride; Rory Grimes, Martin Moan, Cahal Carvill; Ryan Gaffney, Ben Toal, Sean Óg McGuinness. 

Subs: Nathan Curry for McBride (45), Shaun Toal for McGuinness (53). 

Setanta: Kevin Campbell; Conor McGettigan, Steven McBride, Mark Callaghan; Conor Gallen, Bernard Lafferty, Niall Cleary; Declan Coulter, Dean Harvey; Sean Ward, Danny Cullen, Oisin Marley; Josh McGee Cronolly, Gerard Gilmore, Ruairi Campbell. 

Subs: Michael Donaghue for Gallen (ht), Colm Melaugh for Harvey (45), Ryan Coyle  for S McBride (54), Ryan Callaghan for Coulter (60).

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Antrim).