The Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals provided two cracking ties with Cuchullains Dunloy getting the better of Shamrocks Loughgiel by 2-15 to 0-11 while Ruairi Og Cushendall beat St John’s by 1-27 to 0-26.
Neil McManus landed an imperious 0-14 for Cushendall in majestic style while Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McCambridge and Paddy McGill each contributed three points and Conall Bohill, Peter McCallin, Oisin Donnelly and Conor Johnston did their best to sustain the Johnnies’ resistance when the heat was on.
The first of the Down Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals saw Liatroim lead Ballygalget by 0-12 to 1-6 at half-time with the latter’s goal coming just before the break while the McCrickard clan — Eoin, Conor and Pearse Og — helped Liatroim to maintain their momentum.
But when Ballygalget stepped up the pressure after the break, their pace and accuracy proved too much for their opponents who won by 2-15 to 0-16.
In an equally absorbing second Semi-Final, Portaferry just managed to overcome Ballycran by 1-31 to 3-23.
Portaferry led by 1-14 to 0-9 at the halfway stage before being pushed to the limit by their opponents in what proved to be a tingling second-half.
As reigning champions Portaferry had gone into the match bearing the mantle of favourites but Ballycran’s stubborn streak surfaced and they maintained their momentum right up until the final whistle sounded.
In the Tyrone Senior Hurling Championship Final at Healy Park, Omagh, Eire Og led Eoghan Ruadh by 1-9 to 1-8 at the break with Aidy Kelly having grabbed their goal after Piaras McErlean had hit the net for Eoghan Ruadh. And it was Kelly who was to the fore again in the second-half as he played a leading role in steering his side to their 3-16 to 3-13 victory.
This was the fifth consecutive County Championship title which Eire Og have won and their status within the sport continues to increase.
It was a neck and neck battle between two well matched sides and they played with such intensity and no little skill that they laid down an encouraging message for hurling in the Red Hand County. The score fest underlined the depth of finishing power within both sides.