Super Setanta hold off Carrickmore to lift historic first ever Ulster IHC title

It may have started off in a foggy dew, but this game ended in the brightest of victories for super Setanta, who took a historic first ever Ulster Intermediate title in Owenbeg. 

Setanta 1-16 Eire Óg Carrickmore 2-11 

And when referee Colm McDonald blew time, the pitch was a sea of green and black as their fans celebrated a truly memorable win over a fine Eire Óg side who were down to 14 men for most of the second-half. 

Owenbeg was engulfed in fog and the game was held up for half an hour

The losers hit a golden patch after half-time as they overhauled a six-point deficit of 0-11 to 0-5 to level matters on a score of 0-11 to 1-8 when Dean Rafferty converted a penalty in the 39th minute.

But once again Gerry Gilmore was in top form hitting 0-11 with eight coming from placed balls. 

However, it took a superbly finished goal from wing forward Sean Ward to really settle this hard-fought affair in the 59th minute. 

Oisin Marley found Ruairi Campbell who was surrounded by three players but managed to find Ward with a hand pass. 

And the burly wing forward smashed the sliotar to the net to send the Setana fans wild and put his side into a 1-15 to 1-11 lead. 

But the late drama was not over as Carrickmore sub Aidy Kelly scrambled the ball to the net to leave just two points between the sides. 

Setanta had to endure an anxious minute before the final whistle blew and the celebrations began. 

The game was delayed by half an hour owing to heavy fog at the Derry venue and referee Colm McDonald finally gave the go ahead after consultation with Ulster Council officials. 

The lights were put on and the game began and for the first 20 minutes, it was almost impossible to make out some of the players. 

Thankfully the fog lifted but there was some rich irony as “The Foggy Dew” was playing at full blast as officials decided whether the game would go ahead or not. 

Carrickmore settled swiftly and Conn Sweeny pointed from play after one minute. But then Gerard Gilmore hit the first of his nine points from a free. 

He added three more points in four minutes with Justin Kelly replying for Eire Óg as Setanta led by 0-4 to 0-2 by the 12th minute. 

Dermot Begley and Gilmore swapped points from frees in a pretty turgid affair as the sides tied at 0-5 apiece by the 17th minute. 

But Setanta owned the second quarter and Danny Cullen, Gilmore and Josh McGee Cronolly made it 0-11 to 0-6 for the Finn Valley men at the break. 

Eire Óg threw on injured Tyrone star Aidy Kelly just before the break but it looked like they shipped a heavy blow when Ruairi Slane got a straight red card following an encounter with Mark Callaghan who picked up a yellow card. 

It looked bleak for the Tyrone men but they stormed back and hit 1-3 in six minutes with Dean Rafferty goaling a penalty after Sean Óg Grogan was fouled in the square. 

Kelly landed the points as the sides were level on a score of 0-11 to 1-8. Setanta revived after the onslaught with Declan Coulter stretching their lead with a priceless point. 

Carrickmore responded through Kelly before Gilmore and Marley made it 0-14 to 1-9 as time ticked away. 

Kelly and Gilmore traded points before Ward’s wonderful goal that put Setanta into seventh heaven. They now meet the Leinster champions in a fortnight. 

Setanta scorers: Gerry Gilmore 0-11,8f; Sean Ward 1-0; Danny Cullen 0-2: Josh McGee Cronolly, Oisin Marley, Declan Coulter 0-1; 

Eire Óg scorers: Aidy Kelly 1-5; Dean Rafferty 1-0; Dermot Begley 0-3; Conn Sweeny 0-1; Sean ´Óg Grogan 0-1; Justin Kelly 0-1. 

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 Conor Gallen (44), Colm Melaugh for Dean Harvey (49), Ryan Coyle for Niall Cleary (59). 

Eire Óg, Carrickmore: Conor McElhatton; Michael Kelly, Oran McKee, Dean Rafferty; Anthony Crossan, Dermot Begley, Seamus Sweeney; Bryan McGurk, Ruairi Slane; Conor Grogan, Justin Kelly, Conn Sweeney; Cormac Munroe, Sean Óg Grogan, Oisin Daly. 

Subs; Aidy Kelly for Seamus Sweeney (26), Ryan Conway for Oisin Daly (43), Enda Grimes for Anthony Crossan (48), Tony Hughes for Michael Kelly (53). 

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)