AIB Ulster Club IHC final: Banagher (Derry) 2-11 Lisbellaw (Fermanagh) 0-12
BRIAN Og McGilligan and Ciaran Lynch smashed home the goals that sent Banagher on their way to an emotionally-charged first Ulster Club IHC title as they powered past Lisbellaw at O’Neills Healy Park.
The Derry men had struggled for fluency and direction until McGilligan hit the net just before the interval, but they were a transformed team in the second half, performing with confidence, poise and character.
The Fermanagh champions looked the part in the opening 25 minutes, with Ciaran Corrigan and Daniel Teague tormenting the opposition defence as they opened out a three-point lead.
However, they were unable to maintain it as Banagher stepped up the tempo.
Crucially, the Oak Leafers struck gold with the two goal chances they created, while Lisbellaw spurned three golden opportunities, two of them well saved by goalkeeper Darrell McDermott.
Banagher manager Ryan Lynch reflected on the third quarter power-play that set his side up for title triumph.
“It was our big one, and it tends to be our big one. If we can live with the opposition, we can put our shoulder to the wheel even further in the third quarter,” he said.
“There were a couple of moments of individual brilliance, and I thought we hurled very well.
“We didn’t settle at all in the first half, and we were fortunate to be level.
“In the second half we started picking our passes, playing with the heads up, and then we were getting shots off.”
A huge milestone for a tight-knit club was joyfully celebrated at the Omagh venue.
“For these guys to get their just reward, for our club to get its first Ulster title, that’s hopefully a stepping stone to bigger and better things,” Lynch said.
“Now we know we’re going into an All-Ireland series against huge opposition, but I ask the guys to work as hard as they can for as long as they can, and every day I’m promised that.
“It doesn’t matter about the skill level, it doesn’t matter about the game itself, but if they leave everything and they’re spent at the end of it, we will win the majority of our games. They’re just a very honest bunch of lads.”
Banagher eased ahead with scores from Steafan McCloskey and Tiarnan McCloskey, with a long range effort, after Teague had shot the Fermanagh men in front.
Their long ball startegy had mixed results, with a peppering of wides frustrating their efforts, but they still had their noses in front by the water break, thanks to the defensive efforts of Darragh McCloskey, Gabriel Farren and Ruairi McCloskey.
Ciaran Corrigan, who had already slotted over a tidy score, asked questions of the Banagher cover with his purposeful running, winning a free that John Duffy converted.
And the Lisbellaw attack began to get some joy from the accurate deliveries of Caolan Duffy and Sean Corrigan, with Teague firing over two classy scores.
As the Oak Leaf men continued to go the direct route, they came up against an inspired full-back in Rory Porteous, while Aidan Flanagan also collected a number of high balls to clear.
Ciaran Corrigan opened up a three-point lead, but two minutes before the break, Banagher made the breakthrough, Brian Og McGilligan rising high to fetch a Mark Lynch delivery and smash his shot to the net.
That timely score sent the sides in level at the break, 1-3 to 0-6, and as the game opened up in a defining third quarter, the Derry side made their mark.
Now more thoughtful and creative in their use of possession, passes were going to hand and scoring opportunites opened up.
Liam Eoin Campbell and Tiaranan McCloskey sot them two ahead, and while scores from Sean Corrigan and Teague had the sides level again by the 43rd minute, a second goal just before the drinks break effectively sealed it.
Sean McCullagh provided the pass for Ciaran Lynch to finish clinically to the bottom corner of the net and Banagher led by five.
There were anxious moments to survive, and goalkeeper Darrell McDermott rose to the occasion with two fine saves, denying Duffy and Ciaran Corrigan.
Tiarnan McCloskey brought his tally to five with two more scores, and with Lynch adding another, the margin grew to eight with five minutes to play.
Lisbellaw were now chasing consolation scores, with Teague hitting his sixth, and Sean Corrigan and Conor McShea also on target late on.
Banagher: D McDermott; G Farren, R McCloskey, C McGilligan; N Farren, D McCloskey, M Lynch; S Murphy, B Og McGilligan (1-0); C O’Kane, T McCloskey (0-5, 0-3 frees), C Lynch (1-1); L Campbell (0-2), S McCullagh (0-2), S McCloskey (0-1).
Subs: J O’Dwyer for O’Kane (46), PJ McCloskey for S McCloskey (53), P McCloskey for McCullagh (55), F McGilligan for C McGilligan (57), N Biggs for Campbell (60).
Lisbellaw: M Curry; D Bannon, R Porteous, F McBrien; A Flanagan, A Breslin, S Corrigan (0-2); C Duffy, L McCusker; J Duffy (0-1 free), C Corrigan (0-2), M Flanagan; C McShea (0-1), D Teague (0-6), T Keenan.
Subs: M Slevin for Bannon (49), E Cleary for Keenan (53).
Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim).
