HURLING| Eire Og Retain Benburb Cup

Sunday 28.08.2016

Club

Carrickmore Eire Og and Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh served up a real cracker of a senior hurling final on Sunday afternoon in front of a huge crowd at sun kissed Healy Park before a late goal ensured that The Benburb Cup headed up the road to Pairc Eire Og.

In what was one of the most competitive and enthralling finals seen for many years both sides enjoyed periods of dominance with the result in doubt right up to the closing minutes.

Eire Og played into the breeze in the opening half and moved 1-2 to 0-3 in front following a fine goal from Chrissy Meenagh midway through the first half. Dungannon responded well with points from Philip Barker and Tiernan Morgan drawing the sides level.

Carrickmore eased in front by two before Barker found the net for Eoghan Ruadh and the sides swapped points with fine scores from Molloy and Mulgrew for Dungannon putting them three up as the break approached.  A late point from the hugely impressive Justin Kelly meant the teams went in at the break with Eoghan Ruadh leading by two points.

Referee Alan Nash kept a close watch on the game throughout with his common sense style of officiating adding greatly to the occasion.

Eoghan Ruadh moved three clear five minutes into the second half with quick fire points from Mulgrew and Kiefer Morgan. Eire Og continued to battle hard and by the midway point of the second half the teams were level 1-11 apiece with Peadar Daly, Justy Kelly and Aidy Kelly landing points.

Eire Og captain Sean Og Grogan bagged his team’s second goal with eight minutes of normal time remaining. The same player and Matthew Mulgrew swapped points before Tony Hughes bundled the ball over the line for his team’s third goal to put Eire Og six points clear.

A minute later Eoghan Ruadh reduced the deficit to three points when Mulgrew found the net for his team’s second goal. With time running out the exchanges became slightly heated but referee Nash settled both teams with his sensible approach to handling the game. Damien Casey converted a close in free but it was a case of too little too late and Eire Og deservedly claimed the title on a full time score of 3-14 to 2-14.