St Killian’s reach fifth successive Foresters’ Cup decider
Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final
St Killian’s Garron Tower 1-12 St Louis Ballymena 0-13
At half-time in this Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final, St Louis Ballymena looked odds on to reach the final.
They led by 0-8 to 0-2 at one stage and turned over with a 0-9 to 0-4 lead having dominated through strong forceful play from Ryan McGarry, Antoin McGrath and Seaan Elliott (sic). St Killian’s simply didn’t look strong enough to turn things around.
The trend continued during the third quarter and, while the Tower seemed to be getting control at midfield through Ed McQuillan and Francis McCurry, St Louis stretched their advantage to 0-12 to 0-6, with Elliott’s accuracy from frees the key element.
Everything changed however with a scrambled goal in the 46th minute from Niall Allen. It gave St Killian’s the lift they had been awaiting and points from James Morgan and Sean McKay brought the game down to a single point difference.
Once again Elliott delivered on a free, his ninth score. But back came St Killian’s to draw level through points from Allen and a Morgan free.
Morgan then edged them ahead and, when Elliott uncharacteristically scuffed a late free, McKay fired over another point for a two point victory.
Elliott and his full-forward Conal McHenry hit three points each for St Louis to take early control and during that first half they were stronger in most areas of the field.
Ronan McCambridge, who had helped the school golfers claim the Ulster Match-play title on Tuesday in an extra hole play-off, was the only St Killian’s forward threatening scores during that period.
However it all came right for the Tower in the last quarter and they go through to their fifth successive Foresters’ Cup decider, and a third against St Patrick’s maghera.
St Killian’s : Niall Allen 1-1, James Morgan 0-6, 0-5 frees, Sean McKay 0-3, Francis McCurry 0-1, Ronan McCambridge 0-1.
St Louis : Seaan Elliott 0-9, 0-7 frees, Conall McHenry 0-3, Dara Fegan 0-1.
