Senior Medallion Shield final
Assumption, Ballynahinch 1-9 St Conor’s, Clady/Kilrea 1-5
ASSUMPTION, Ballynahinch overturned a 9-9 to 4-4 defeat by St Conor’s Clady/Kilrea in the first round of the Senior Medallion Shield to collect the trophy in Coláiste Feirste for just the second time in their history.
It was the school’s third provincial title of the season, having taken the junior shield in November and the sevens title a month earlier. It all means they have two All-Ireland semi-finals against Leinster opposition over the next couple of weekends.
Assumption got off to the worst possible start, with Leah Marron’s hopeful effort at a point dipping between post and crossbar for a goal for St Conor’s goal in the fourth minute.
That score rattled the Down side and they didn’t open their account until the 14th minute when Corra Croskery pointed.
However, a strong second-quarter saw them build up a 1-6 to 1-1 interval lead with four points, three from frees, from Daire O’Shea and a goal in the 17th minute from Caileigh McConnell.
St Conor’s were marginally the better team during the second half, but couldn’t convert possession into enough scores to trouble Ballynahinch whose defence, marshalled by Caitlin McGrattan and Erin Daly, were outstanding.
St Conor’s half-back Ellie McCartney struck four excellent long-range points but Assumption were always in command until injury-time when there were a couple of goal chances for Clady/Kilrea before Alannah McKay made the game safe with a very late point.
Assumption C McConnell 1-1, D O’Shea 0-5, 4 frees, A McKay 0-2, C Croskery 0-1
St Conor’s L Marron 1-0, E McCartney 0-4, S O’Connell 0-1
Referee K Parke (Naomh Éanna)
