Castleblayney HC 1-17, Inniskeen 1-13.

A sharper more clinical Castleblayney made no mistake at the 2^nd attempt to claim the senior hurling league title at the expense of Inniskeen in this hugely entertaining contest that built to a pulsating finish in Aughnamullen on Sunday afternoon last.

Played at a cracking pace throughout this was a game that was in sharp contrast to the rather dull drawn encounter and produced some great performances and excellent scoring particularly by Castleblayney’s Niall Garland and Ronan Meegan, Inniskeen, the latter finishing top scorer with 0-10, 8 from frees. Castleblayney also had influential performances from the Traynor brothers, Peter and Mark, along with Deaglan Crowe, Brian McGuigan and Fergal Rafter. Inniskeen too had their moments although they only led once in the entire contest and that after 12 minutes when a goal by Ciaran McKinley put them in front for the 1^st and only time, but ultimately their reliance on Ronan Meegan for scores partly proved the undoing. There was also the fact that a number of their players were involved in an intermediate football league game the previous day, Saturday, and that too may have taken its toll. A strong 2nd quarter saw Castleblayney go in at half-time 7 points in front, although the elements had favoured them in that 1^st half and gave Inniskeen renewed impetus on the resumption, that saw them gradually whittle away at Castleblayney’s lead to bring the margin down to the minimum entering the final 10 minutes. A single point still separated them going into the final 2 minutes of normal time but Castleblayney sealed victory with a goal by Deaglan Crowe just on the hour with both sides scoring 2 points apiece in stoppage time but that goal ultimately saw Castleblayney over the line.

Teams and Scorers:

C’Blayney HC: Patrick Collins, Bernard Connor, Eoin Leonard, Brian Flanagan, Peter Traynor, Jim McHugh, Aaron Kenny, Deaglan Crowe 1-0, Mark Traynor 0-4, Brian McGuigan 0-2, Nathan Adair 0-1, Jack Deasy, Tony Forde 0-1, Niall Garland 0-7 (7f), Fergal Rafter 0-2. Subs: Stephen Forde for P Collins.

Inniskeen: Niall Butler, Pauric Garland, Padraig Dowdall, Colm Meegan, Paul Meegan, Philip Brooks, Martin Murphy, Gavin Dooley, Donal Meegan, Trevor Hilliard 0-1, David McGahan 0-1, Ronan Meegan 0-10 (8f), Jamie Dooley, PJ Boyle, Ciaran McKinley 1-1. Subs: Gerard Ruddy for D McGahan, David McGahan for D Meegan, Conor Faul for J Dooley.

Referee: Jim O’Rourke (Monaghan Harps HC).