St Eunan's come up short against Castleblayney in Ulster JHC decider

Castleblayey’s greater experience and physique were just too much for a battling St Eunan’s side before a big crowd in Eoghan Ruadh Park, Dungannon. 

Castleblayney 2-16 St Eunan’s 1-15

And it was five unanswered points in the final quarter that saw the Monaghan champions edge this Ulster JFC decider. 

Their victory was deserved, and they were much more clinical in front of the posts posting seven wides to St Eunan’s ten missed efforts. 

But while Eunan’s subs stood up well, they still missed the injured Daire Ó Maoileidigh and the suspended Cormac Finn. 

Castleblayney had a great start in the opening ten minutes as Thomas Hughes tore down the wing and smashed the ball to the roof of the net for a wonderful goal after Cathal O’Brien had given the Letterkenny lads an early lead. 

The vastly experienced Fergal Rafter hit the roof of the net from an acute angle on the other side of the field but there was a suspicion that Eunan’s should have had a line ball seconds beforehand and suddenly, ‘Blayney were leading by 2-0 to 0-1. 

To their credit, Eunan’s hit back with points from O’Brien and Fergal Delaney who rammed in a goal to leave just a point between the sides after twelve minutes. 

That set the tone for a ding-dong second quarter with both sides swapping some fine points. 

Eunan’s had a great chance of a goal in the 18th minute but Russell Forde’s rasping shot flashed across the face of the goal and wide. 

Young Peter Kelly took over the free-taking duties from the injured Ó Maoileidigh and was on target while Leo Maloney replied in kind for ‘Blayney.

Thomas Hughes was a constant threat in the Eunan’s defence as Blayney led by 2-7 to 1-6 at the break. 

Eunan’s then had their best period in the third quarter as they won loads of breaking ball around midfield as O’Brien, Kelly and Brian MacIntyre levelled matters on a score of 2-7 to 1-10. 

The sides were level on four occasions in a pulsating third quarter where Eunan’ hit four wides. 

It was point for point until the 45th minute with the Donegal side firmly in the ascendancy as their large following sensed a shock. 

But ‘Blayney’s bigger men began to win a lot of ball in the air as they gradually reasserted themselves. 

Maloney and Rafter struck points but this was negated by a superb point on the run from McIntyre to tie matters at 2-10 to 1-13 with 14 minutes to go. And it was 2-11 to 1-14 as the excellent Hughes and Matt Ahern swapped points. 

However ‘Blayney moved up through the gears and they hit five points on the spin through Niall Garland, Hughes (2) and Rafter to put clear daylight between the sides. 

St Eunan’s sole reply was a long-range point from the hard-working MacIntyre. The Donegal side pressed hard for a badly needed goal but ‘Blayney held firm for a deserved victory. 

Castleblayney scorers: Thomas Hughes 1-4; Fergal Rafter 1-3; Leo Maloney 0-4,4f; Conall McHugh 0-2; Declan Hughes 0-2; Brian McGuigan 0-1. 

St Eunan’s scorers: Peter Kelly 0-6,6f; Fergal Delaney 1-1; Cathal O’Brien 0-3,3f; Brian MacIntyre 0-3; Matt Ahern 0-1; Ryan Hilferty 0-1. 

Castleblayney: Paul Murphy; Paudie Heavin, Colin Merrick, Brian Flanagan; Aaron Kenny, Peter Treanor, Cormac McNally; Conall McHugh, Declan Hughes; Leo Maloney, Fergal Rafter, Nialll Garland; Thomas Hughes, Brian McGuigan, Eoin Leonard. Subs; Pauric Malone for Cormac McNally (47), Mark Treanor for Niall Garland (53). 

St Eunan’s; Cian Hennessy; Sean Halvey, Conor Neely, David Horgan; Cathal O’Brien, Conor O’Grady, Ryan Hilferty; Brian MacIntyre, Kevin Kealy; Sean McVeigh, Chris Murray, Peter Kelly; Russell Forde, Matt Ahern, Fergal Delaney. 

Subs; Calvin Aidoo for Russell Forde and James O’Donnell for Russell Forde and Matt Ahern (54), Oisin Randles for Chris Murray (59). 

Referee: Peter Owens (Down)