Eoghan Ruadh Lift Benburb Cup

Monday 17.09.2018

Club

Eoghan Ruadh produced a dominant second half comeback in Sunday’s senior Hurling final to lift the Benburb Cup and deny Eire Óg the chance of a five in a row.

Brannan Molloy opened the scoring but his early score was cancelled out by a point from Eire Óg’s Aidan Kelly. Lorcan Devlin pointed to put Eoghan Ruadh in front again but another Aidan Kelly free tied the game for a second time.

Damien Casey then landed his first score of the day before Aidan Kelly hit the net thirteen minutes into the first half to put Eire Óg 1-2 to 0-3 in front. Liam Armstrong pointed to extend the lead before that man Casey landed a fine score from distance. Pearse Cunningham scored to put three between the teams but Keifer Morgan replied for the Dungannon lads.

With half time approaching Aidan Kelly landed his third point of the game to put three between the teams and almost immediately Ryan Mc Kernan extended that gap to four. There was still time for further scores before half time with Matthew Mulgrew and Aidan Kelly swapping scores to send the teams in at the break with Eire Óg leading 1-8 to 0-6.

A Damien Casey free opened the scoring after the break and three further points from Casey (2) and and Locan Devlin left one between the teams. Eoghan Ruadh looked much sharper to the ball and tied the game with another point from Damien Casey. Eire Óg appeared rattled but a point from Conor Grogan had them in front again.

Eoghan Ruadh however continued to create chances and levelled with a score from Keifer Morgan before another Damien Casey point had them in front for the first time in the second half. Another point from Casey extended the lead to two with six minutes remaining but Justin Kelly narrowed the gap to one with time running out.

Eire Óg pushed for an equaliser but the game was decided when Eoghan Ruadh were awarded a penalty as the clock ticked towards the sixty minute mark. Damien Casey dispatched the penalty to the net to put Eoghan Ruadh 1-14 to 1-10 in front.

Just when it seemed that the game was up back came Eire Óg with a Justin Kelly goal to leave one between the sides. However Damien Casey steadied the Eoghan Ruadh nerves and settled the result with the final score of the game to take the Benburb Cup back to the East for the first time in five years.