Keady hurlers prove too strong for Shamrocks in Ulster

AIB Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship - Quarter-Final

Newry Shamrocks 0-12

Keady 3-22

By Elaine Leddy

While it's been a terrific season for Down Intermediate Hurling Champions Newry Shamrock's, their journey ended on Sunday in Pairc Esler when they were beaten comprehensively by Keady in the Ulster Championship quarter-final.

Ronan Sheehan's players held their own in the first half, trailing 1-10 to 0-8 at the break following an early goal by the Armagh Senior Champions. But Keady's quality shone through in the second half, when they pulled away with 2-12 more while Shamrocks could only find four more points.

Keady led by five with four minutes on the clock after points from Conor and John Corvan were followed by a goal from the former.

Shamrocks responded with their first score of the game - a free converted by James Duggan and they had a goal chance of their own with a good poc in by Sean Campbell picked up well by Michael McKey but his shot was blocked by Damien Corvan.

Duggan sent another free over the bar moments later however and when Conor McPolin was crowded out moments later as he tried to get a shot away, he was fouled in the process with Duggan scoring his third free of the afternoon to make it 1-2 to 0-3.

The Newry side had another opportunity to hit a maximum when a long poc in saw the Keady keeper Ruairi Fullerton, miss the slioithar as he came out to retrieve, and David Bridges tried unsuccessfully to get there to stick it in the empty net, as it trickled over the back line.

Points from Michael McKey and Duggan, with another free, squared the match at 0-5 to 1-2 in the twelfth minute but it wasn't long before the Armagh Champions pulled away again.

A brace from Conor Corvan and another provided by Stephen Renaghan, following a short puc out by Shamrocks' keeper Damien Kearns under pressure, put three between the teams and traded points from Marc Toal and David Bridges kept the margin intact as the half wound down.

That deficit was extended to five by the short whistle and while Duggan sent another free between the sticks after the restart, Keady were awarded a penalty four minutes in, that Conor Corvan coolly converted, and he tagged on a point stretching their lead to eight - 0-9 to 2-11.

That sent Keady on their way with seven more points as scoring became increasingly easy, while two more Duggan frees and a good score from Sean Campbell, proved to be the last for Shamrocks.

Jim Shortt added the third goal for Keady on 52 minutes, but the contest was long over by then with the final score reading 0-12 to 3-22.

MATCH STATS

Newry Shamrocks: D Kearns; L Harper, A McFuiness, N Furlong; M McKey (0-1), J Murphy, G Courtney; R Courtney, D Doyle; D Bridges (0-2), S Campbell (0-1), S McKey; J Duggan (0-8,8f), E McGuinness, C McPolin

Subs: S Courtney for Harper (43mins), C Dinsmore for S McKey (56mins), C Crawford for Bridges (57mins)

Keady: R Fullerton; J Molloy, D Corvan, B Molloy (0-1); D Harvey (0-1), O Keenan (0-2), B Shortt; C Corvan (2-10,8f), J Shortt (1-1,1f); S Harvey (0-1), M Toal (0-1), J Loughran; S Renaghan (0-2), J Corvan (0-1), O Fullerton (0-2)

Subs: C Farrell for Loughran (49mins), C Farrell for J Corvan (49mins), D McKenna for J Shortt (54mins), M McDermott for J Molloy (54mins), S McCooey for Toal (54mins)

Referee: James Clarke