DERRY
Premier Electrics Derry JFC final: Craigbane 1-11 Ballymaguigan 1-10
Substitute Lee Moore was the Craigbane’s hero as they sunk Ballymaguigan late on to win a second junior title in three seasons at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Moore’s penalty in the dying minutes put Craigbane ahead in a game they chased for long spells.
It was a goal from Derry Masters player Ciaran McIvor that shot Ballymaguigan into a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead, with skipper Michael Spiers also among the scorers.
The reigning champions kept their noses in front for most of the second half but they needed a smart Brian Cassidy save to deny Jude McLaughlin.
Moore came on at half time with his brother Rory and Bliain Gormley also coming off the bench to help turn the game.
Fergal Mortimer kicked scores to keep Craigbane in touch until the game changed late on. Cahir O’Kane won a vital possession leading to Jude McLaughlin being put through. When he was pulled down, Moore tucked his penalty to the net for a dramatic winner.
TYRONE
Connollys of Moy Tyrone JFC final: Killeeshil 2-7 Aghaloo 0-12
Killeeshil grabbed 1-1 deep into stoppage time to steal a sensational victory in the Connollys of Moy Tyrone JFC final at O’Neills Healy Park, writes Francis Mooney.
An intercepted back-pass gave Michael O’Neill the opportunity to plant the ball in an empty net in the 64th minute, and it was substitute Cormac Donaghy who sent over the winner from a free.
A devastated group of Aghaloo players couldn’t believe what had just happened to them.
Three points clear with time almost up, they appeared ready to collect the Pat Darcy Cup, but the St Mary’s refused to accept defeat and chased it right to the death.
They make an immediate return to intermediate football following last year’s relegation, but Aghaloo still have a chance of promotion through the league play-offs.
Aghaloo went ahead early on through Ruairi McGlone, but they would have to wait almost 20 minutes for their next score.
In the meantime, Killeeshil went level with two Packie McMullan points, followed by a Tomas Hoy free and another from play by full back Bernard O’Neill.
Their tackling and intensity frustrated the O’Neill’s, with a succession of turnovers halting attacks until Oliver Sherry fisted a point, followed by McGlone’s second.
But in the 25th minute, a soft goal gave Killeeshil a massive boost. Hoy’s attempt at a point dropped short, but deceived goalkeeper Jason Mulgrew and ended in the net.
Aghaloo responded positively with two Tiarnan Donnelly points, but a third from 36-year-old McMullan sent the St Mary’s in with a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.
Aghaloo, with the wind in their backs in the second half, went ahead through Gary O’Gorman, before pushing non with scores from Jody McGlone, Niall Henderson, Conor Mullen and James O’Hara.
Killeeshil managed just a single point, a Jason Doyle ‘45, in more than half an hour, but it all turned in their favour in those crazy closing moments.
As a pass was directed back towards the goalkeeper, Hoy challenged for possession and the ball broke to O’Neill, who finished to the net from close range to bring his side level, and they pushed for a winner, with Donaghy’s steering over a 66th minute free to complete an almost unbelievable turnaround.
Connollys of Moy Tyrone IFC semi-final: Tir na nOg, Moy 2-8 Greencastle 0-8
Moy made no mistake at the second attempt as they got the better of Greencastle in a replay to reach a second successive Connollys of Moy Tyrone IFC final.
Last year’s beaten finalists will meet Derrylaughan in the 2024 decider following their 2-8 to 0-8 victory at O’Neills Healy Park.
A week earlier, a last gasp Greencastle goal had snatched victory away from the Tir na nOgs, with a cagey, risk-averse tie finishing level at 0-6 to 1-3.
But a more open contest saw Moy claim a 2-8 to 0-8 victory to keep themselves in title contention, with both goals coming in the second half.
Ryan Coleman and Michael Conroy kicked two first half points each, but scores from Cahir McCullagh, Conor Carson, Sean Warnock and Dan Tuohey had Greencastle ahead by 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval.
Substitute Sean Cavanagh made an immediate impact, helping set up Matthew Laverty’s 33rd minute goal and sending over a brilliant point himself.
And Coleman was the creator for Patrick McGeary’s 52nd minute strike as the Moy opened up a six points lead.
Greencastle, who were relegated from senior football last year, will have to spend at least one more season in the second tier, having missed out on the league promotion play-offs.
For Moy and Derrylaughan, there’s a golden opportunity to regain senior status by winning next Saturday’s Intermediate Championship final.
And for the losers, there’s still an opportunity to return to Division One through the promotion play-offs.
DOWN
Drumgath were crowned Down intermediate champions following their 3-16 to 0-12 win over Clann na Banna on Saturday night in Páirc Esler.
Keelan Toner’s goal after just six minutes saw them seize control and they never relented. They led 1-9 to 0-3 at the break and a second goal came from Patrick Downey two minutes into the second half. Toner grabbed a third goal - his second - on 48 minutes and Drumgath safely saw the game out to lift the trophy.
In the junior final on Friday night, Dromara defeat Aughlisnafin 2-8 to 1-9. After a nip and tuck first half, the sides went in level at 1-6 apiece, Dromara’s goal coming from a second minute penalty from Brendan McNeill while Tiernan Noade found the net for the ‘Fin on 16 minutes.
Dromara were much the stronger side in the second half, restricting their opponents to three points and taking the lead through Paul Flynn’s goal, which ultimately gave them victory.
ANTRIM
All Saints defeated St Teresa’s emphatically to lift the Antrim IFC title on Saturday. The Ballymena men ran 3-15 to 0-7 winners at Toome. They established a seven-point half-time advantage, 0-9 to 0-2, and didn’t let up in the second half, running in three goals to seal the deal.
The first goal came on 40 minutes from Sean McVeigh, while two quick-fire goals around the 55 minutes mark from Rian Tom and Connell Lemon added further gloss to the final score.
In the junior final, St Comgall’s were 0-9 to 1-3 winners over St Agnes’ on a bitterly cold day at Hightown on Saturday. St Comgall’s had seven points on the board before the Aggies registered one, but the eventual champions were always in control and not even a late goal from St Agnes could deny them victory.