Blayney crowned SHL Champs
The A.M Sports Monaghan Senior Hurling League silverware was handed out last Wednesday night, with Castleblayney and Inniskeen claiming the honours.
Castleblayney retained the Senior Hurling League title in convincing style at home to Truagh.
Having seen off 12-time Louth champions Knockbridge in the previous week’s semi-finals, Truagh were hoping to take an even bigger scalp in Castleblayney, but the holders were in no mood to let their grip on the Dave Ryan Cup loosen. Blayney led throughout the game and they were ahead by double scores (0-10 to 0-5) by the end of the opening half.
A half-forward line of three county men – Leo Moloney and joint-captains Declan Hughes and Conall McHugh – helped keep the scoreboard ticking over for Blayney and with their defence shutting Truagh’s attack down, they sealed a 0-18 to 0-7 win.
Castleblayney panel: Fergal Rafter; Cillian Hanratty, Eoin Leonard, Brian Flanagan; Zack McArdle, Nathan Adair, Paudie Heavin; Ruairí Farrell, Paddy Finnegan; Declan Hughes (Joint-Capt.), Leo Moloney, Conall McHugh (Joint-Capt.); Tim McArdle, Brian McGuigan, Tom Duffy; Hugh Byrne, Steven Beattie, Eoghan Donnelly, Jason Campbell, Niall Garland, Pauric Malone, Conor Sweeney, Jack Murphy, Déaglán Crowe, Thomas Hughes, Cormac McNally, Ronan Merrick, Conor McNally, Nathan McArdle, Alan Duffy, James Byrne, Jordan Carville, Conaire Casey, Ryan Callan, Michael Lillis, Ultan McMahon, Jake O’Connor, Mark Treanor, Bríon Sherry, Cathal Malone, James Lavelle, Jack Deasy, Shea Casey, Bernard Connor.
Truagh panel: Karl McMeel; Pearse McKenna, John McAnespie, Darren Sherlock; Conor Bogue, Conor Boyle, Daithí McMeel; Matthew Flood (Capt.), Páidí Treanor; Donnacha McCluskey, Colm McKernan, Noel Flood; Gareth Mohan, Oisín Hagan, Diarmuid Ó Dómhnaill; Cillian Goodchild, Shane Kelly, Darren Caulfield, John Treanor, Emmett O’Neill, Dominic Flood, Kieran McGuirk, Oisín Morris, Niall Campbell, Ronan Boyle, John McQuillan, Conor Meehan, Niall Coyle, Paul Treanor, Shane Myers.
Meanwhile, three first-half goals proved pivotal as Inniskeen defeated hosts Clontibret in the Shield Final. The Grattans were in control at half-time on a scoreline of 3-8 to 0-7 and although an improving Clontibret side edged the second half, Inniskeen were able to keep them at arm’s length, ending up with seven points to spare.
Inniskeen panel: Trevor Hilliard; Peter Boylan, Jamie Dooley, Jarlath McGahon; Martin Murphy, Mike Lyons (Capt.), Aaron Gernon; Conor McHugh, Cathal Jones; TJ Byrne, Gerry Arthur, Pádraig McGahon; Philip Brooks, Niall Arthur, Dean Hoey; Dylan Curtis, Cormac Boylan, Shane McGahon, Cormac Lennon, Pádraig Deery, Pauric Dowdall, Shane Callan, James Meegan.
Clontibret panel: Christopher McDermott; Lorcan Murphy, Stephen McSkeane, Raymond McNally; Dónal McElvaney, Ian Walsh, David Brennan; Euan Finnegan,
Emmett Walsh (Capt.); Éamon McElroy, Shane McNally, Ethan Lawless; Stephen Mohan, Shane Murphy, Nathan Brennan; Ryan Treanor, David Evans, Shane Connolly, Gareth Brennan, Paul Murphy, John Carragher, Bob Graham, James Whelan, Brendan McCully, Patrick Keenan, Jamie McMahon, Joe McSkeane, Thomas Smith, Kealan McKeever, Éamon McBride, Jack Flynn, Tomás O’Connor.
The A.M Sports Monaghan Senior Hurling Championship will get underway on Wednesday, August 19, with the following quarter-final fixtures: Clontibret v Monaghan Harps; Inniskeen v Carrickmacross; and Truagh v Latton. SHL winners Castleblayney have a bye to the semis.