CENTRE half-back Michael Herron powered St Mary’s Belfast to a 5-8 to 2-5 victory over St Patrick’s Maghera in the Gallagher Cup final and continued this particular year group’s dominance of Ulster Colleges hurling through the age levels.
The Lamh Dhearg youngster gave a magnificent display to dominate the game and he also managed to shoot three points.
The St Mary’s scoring returns were topped by full forward Gerard Hamilton who hit a creditable 3-2 over the hour.
Maghera for their part made a game of it and even though they lost in the end by 12 points they were much closer in the actual exchanges.
Michael Drumm’s goal sent Maghera in at the break five points in arrears 2-4 to 1-2 but with Herron proving a real obstacle St Mary’s never looked like being caught.
Maghera’s misery was complete when their Year Eight lost the blitz final to hosts St Mary’s 1- 2 to 0-2.
St Patrick’s College Barnageeha picked up their first ever Ulster Colleges title, defeating Omagh CBS 1-1 to 1-0 in the Year Eight Shield final.
St Mary’s Belfast: N Rooney, J Webb, D McGuinness, K McDonnell, G McGrath, M Herron (0-3), D Ramsay, F Gamble, A Gallagher, P Higgins (1-2), F Maguire, C McGoldrick (1-0), D Hughes (0-1), G Hamilton (3-2), B AMurphy. Sub: T Coogan for C McGoldrick.
St Patrick’s Maghera: J Mulholland, E McGuckin, S Moore, S Quinn, P Bradley, C Doherty, S Friel, G Scullion, J Quinn (1-1), M Lynch, N Scullion (0-3), M Drumm (1-0), M Logue, L Hinphey (0-1), K Quinn.
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Boxing: Sean’s a shocker
SEAN McClurkin (St Agnes) shocked four-times All-Ireland champion Paul Hyland at Golden Cobra’s big night of the year at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin at the weekend.
“This was Hyland’s first ever defeat, he had never been beaten before in his career with 42 wins in a row,” said his coach Billy McClean. “Sean was absolutely brilliant. It was a fantastic contest.”
Emerald light-welter Gary O’Neill also chalked up a notable victory at the Burlington defeating local favourite Robert Long.
O’Neill’s punching power was evident in the second round said McClean when his left hook dished out a standing count to the Dublin boxer.
Francis McClurkin was also in action on the bill in an exhibition against his Gaelic Youth team-mate Patrick Hyland.
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Republic of Ireland supporters have been advised to hold on to tickets bought for the Euro 2000 Championship match against Yugoslavia.
The game, which was scheduled for Lansdowne Road on Saturday June 5, had to be deferred when the Irish government refused to issue visas for the Yugoslav party to travel to Dublin.
So far there is no indication when the game might be played but the FAI will be in touch with Uefa in the near future in the hope of deciding on a suitable date.
