Ballycran lads take a knock in the Forresters Cup semi final

Dunsilly’s Centre of Participation, Antrim, hosted the semi final of the Ulster Schools GAA, Forrester Cup on a slightly elevated pitch number two. It was a blustery encounter for St. Patrick’s, Knock as the wind peaked up to a steady 18 mph against an equally strong St. Killian’s, Garron Tower hurling squad. The south westerly along with heavy overcasting and winter grass proved difficult for play for both teams but some good hurling could be seen despite the conditions.

Match official Sean Elliott, Lamh Dhearg, got proceedings underway as his timepiece struck 2pm. Garron Tower took the early lead with a point and then a goal in quick succession from Joseph McLaughlin that caught Knock on the hop as they were settling into the game.

Captains C. Corcoran (Knock) and C. McKeown (Garron Tower) with referee Sean Elliott (Forrester Cup – 1)

Throw-in at 2pm (Forrester Cup – 2)

Knock regrouped and a hot sliotar net bound into Garron Tower’s keeper had to be tapped out but an alert Shea Pucci returned the gift beyond the reach of stretching keeper McLaughlin to allow Knock a momentary lift in spirits.

Oisin Woodhouse from close quarters (Forrester Cup – 3)

Garron Tower kept their score tally warm with a couple of additional points before Oisin Woodhouse ripped in a close quartered sliotar from his left side to register the Tower’s second goal. Pucci kept Knock well in the game with a couple of points from frees but Garron Tower’s Peadar McDonnell found Knock’s net to rack up the goal tally to three. It could have been four, as Knock’s defence tactically infringed another run on goal ending with a penalty taken by the Tower’s opening goal scorer McLaughlin. A well struck sliotar, well beyond the reach of Knock’s Marc Guest, inched just over the bar for a point.

McLaughlin narrowly misses his penalty (Forrester Cup – 4)

At half time, Knock were essentially still in the game with Garron Tower 3-6 Knock 1-4.

The second half offered promise for Knock as an early attack on Garron Tower’s goal required nifty footwork from keeper McLaughlin to save the sliotar from rolling over the line but that would mark a turning point in the game as the Tower began their concerted effort to increment their points tally, which ultimately made the real difference in the end.

McLaughlin pulls the stops out to prevent another goal (Forrester Cup – 5)

A late goal from Knock’s Ethan McCarthy was a consolation for staying connected with the game despite Garron Tower’s dominance in the centre ground over puck outs and loose sliotars.

Knock’s Ethan McCarthy glances bench side to acknowledge his score (Forrester Cup – 6)

The game ended Garron Tower 3-16 Knock 2-5. Despite the 1-11 difference, Knock showed a gutsy engagement but it wasn’t enough to compete where points were needed from scoring opportunities that were scarce on the day.

Garron Tower progress to the final against Cross and Passion but all in all it was a great game to watch, despite conditions and more experience for Ballycran’s Manus Gilmore, Peter Clarke, Eoin Kelly and Conor Corcoran along with their fellow players.