Carryduff battle past Kilclief to book spot in IHC decider

19 August 2015

CARRYDUFF upset the odds in Sunday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final by overcoming a fancied Kilclief side to reach their first ever IHC final.

Downpatrick’s RGU ground was the setting for the clash and Carryduff got off to a flying start with points from Ronan Beatty and Donal Og Rooney.

After this initial onslaught, the experienced Kilclief side settled and with Fintan Conway and Nathan Mc Mullan marshalling the defence, they began to dominate the exchanges.

With some wayward shooting on both sides, it was the 12th minute before the Ben Dearg men got their first score with a Thomas Mason free.

Points continued to be exchanged through the accurate free taking of Kilclief’s Mason and Carryduff’s Rooney, while Ciaran Sloan and Liam Deegans hit excellent points for the Kilclief men.

Carryduff stayed in front and it was the goal scoring prowess of county minor Ronan Beatty that ensured they led at halftime on a scoreline of Carryduff 2-4 Kilclief 0-7.

Kilclief came out with all guns blazing in the second half and points from Eoin Curran and Cormac Conway reduced the deficit.

Carryduff extended their lead through Eoin Conway, Gareth Lynch and Conall Early, while the ongoing free taking battle between Rooney and Mason saw further points added to the scoreboard.

Kilclief were continuing to claw back the scoreline and as the match reached its closing stages, there were three points between the sides.

The Ben Dearg side upped the ante searching for that elusive equalising goal but sterling defensive work from Carryduff’s Niall Morris and Niall McArdle kept the Red and Greens at bay.

A long range injury time point from Conall Early put four points between the teams and effectively sealed the Carryduff victory.

Kilclief Ben Dearg 1-12

Carryduff 2-13

DOWN IHC SEMI-FINAL

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