Club Competitions - By
Pat Watterson and Michael Conway
Following the success of the Primary
schools competitions on Friday last, attention switched on Saturday to club
competitions beginning with Division Two matches in St. Patrick’s Park,
Portaferry. The first game saw Carryduff take on Newry Shamrocks. Both sides had
skilful players in Darragh Goodwin and Conor Mc Cullagh (Carryduff) and Tom
Dunford and Donal Fullerton (Shamrocks) but it was the Carryduff boys who
qualified for the semis with a resounding win. Last year’s winners Liatroim then
took on Warrenpoint in one of the games of the tournament. Kieran Doyle, Robert
Dixon and the Browns were prominent for the Fontenoy side but it was the boys
from the Point who took the honours on a 3-4 to 2-1 scoreline. Bredagh who were
beaten in the 2004 final were determined to go one better this year. Led by
Michael Guerin, the Belfast boys took on a Castlewellan side whose star
performer was Ruari O Laibheartaigh. Bredagh took the game to Castlewellan from
the start and good performances from Donal Mc Keagney and Niall Wright helped
them to a comfortable victory.
In the first semi final, Carryduff were
unlucky to go out to Ballyvarley. The Banbridge side, inspired by Christopher
Adams, equalised with the last shot of the game and despite excellent displays
from Carryduff’s Gary Morris and Jason Lynch, Ballyvarley went through with an
extra time winner. The other semi was a nailbiting affair as Bredagh qualified
for their second successive final with one Conor Mc Closkey goal separating the
sides. In the Division Two final, Bredagh made sure of their place in the All
Ireland competition in Cork with a comprehensive victory over Ballyvarley.
The Shield competition saw Shamrocks upset
the formbook with a win over a tired Carryduff team. Liatroim eventually won the
Shield, following their semi final win over Castlewellan.
Saturday’s Division One competition
involving the Ards sides was played on a round robin basis with Ballygalget
overcoming both Portaferry and Ballycran. The meeting of the ‘Cran and the Ports
resulted in a draw.
In the Camogie tournament, Ballycran
emerged as Down Feile Champions and will travel to the national Feile final in
June. Captain Jenny Fowler along with midfield partner Amy Mc Carthy gave a
great display and with Suzelle Johnston (0-1) and goal scorers Ciara Woods (2-0)
and Laura Hughes (1-0) in fine form, the cup went to the Ballycran club for the
first time in the history of the competition. Portaferry made this a
well-contested final with every move well contested and great sportsmanship
displayed by both sides. Portaferry’s best were Ciara Mageean (0-2), captain
Orla Ritchie, Niamh Mallon and Nicola Moreland.
CLUB RESULTS
Best Dressed Team – Bredagh (Camogie)
Warrenpoint (Hurling)
Best Club Banner – Ballycran (Camogie)
Carryduff (Hurling)
Div 1 Hurling Ballygalget 4-8
Ballycran 0-0
Portaferry 0-4 Ballycran 1-1
Portaferry 1-3 Ballygalget 2-8
Div 2 Hurling Carryduff 5-2
Shamrocks 0-0
Warrenpoint 3-4 Bredagh 8-3
Carryduff 1-1 Ballyvarley 2-1 (aet)
Shield Castlewellan 0-0 Liatroim
3-10
Shamrocks 1-2 Carryduff 0-0
Final: Liatroim w/o Shamrocks
Cup Warrenpoint 0-1 Bredagh
1-1
Final: Bredagh 8-2 Ballyvarley 0-1
Camogie Ballycran 2-1 Ben
Dearg 0-0
Portaferry 3-3 Ballygalget 0-0
Bredagh 0-0 An Riocht 2-0
Shield Bredagh 1-0 Ballygalget
1-0
Bredagh won 1-2 to 1-0 (AET)
Final: Clonduff 3-6 Bredagh 0-2
Cup An Riocht 0-0 Portaferry
2-1
Ballycran 2-0 Ben Dearg 0-0
Final:
Ballycran 4-2 Portaferry 0-2
