SILVER HILL FARM SENIOR HURLING LEAGUE FINAL.  

Castleblayney HC 0-17, Inniskeen Grattans 2-9.

Castleblayney H C completed the senior hurling double when they added the league title to their senior hurling championship title, holding out for a 2 points victory over Inniskeen in what was a fairly low-key yet always interesting contest that was played in blustery and somewhat greasy conditions in Aughnamullen on Sunday afternoon last. Both sides were somewhat less than full strength and the essential difference between the sides in the end was the accuracy of Castleblayney’s Fergal Rafter, who finished top scorer with 12 points, 10 of them from frees, hit from a range of distances and angles that marks him down as the quality player that he is. It was a player of that quality that Inniskeen lacked as their wastefulness in front of goals saw them hitting 12 wides in all, 5 in the 1^st half as against 5 in total by Castleblayney and only 2 points separated the sides at the finish, underlining the more economic approach of the senior hurling champions. Inniskeen led briefly in the early stages, with Castleblayney forging 2 points ahead at the break and holding an edge during the 2^nd half before a late goal for Inniskeen brought the margin down to 2 points and made for a somewhat nervous finish.

Teams and Scorers: Castleblayney HC: James Carville, Colin Merrick, Eoin Leonard, Jack, Deasy, Cormac McNally, Pauric Malone 0-1, Jim McHugh, Brian Flanagan, Mark Treanor, Nathan Adair, Fergal Rafter 0-12 (10f), Fintan Finnegan 0-1, Jordan Carville 0-1, Brian McGuigan 0-2, Craig Callan. Subs: James Lavelle for J Deasy, Ciaran McBride for P Malone.

Inniskeen: Niall Butler, PJ Boyle, Kevin Crawley, Patrick Garland, Conor Gernon, Martin Murphy, Dylan Mulholland, David McGahon 0-1, Gavin Dooley, Padraig McGahon 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), Pauric Dowdall, Brian McCabe, 1-1 (2f), Jamie Dooley, Philip Brooks, Tadhg Campbell 0-4. Subs: Tadhg Meegan for PJ Boyle, Patrick Dooley for G Dooley. Referee: Jim O’Rourke (Monaghan Harps H C).