Slaughtneil 1-15 Loughgiel 3-14
Loughgiel came from eight points down in the first half to defeat Derry champions Slaughtneil side in the Ulster Club hurling final played at Celtic Park this afternoon.
Slaughtneil raced into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead against the Antrim side after 15 minutes helped by a Cormac McKenna goal.
Loughiel, the 2012 All-Ireland champions, fought back and two Eddie McCloskey goals cut the deficit to four points at half time.
Points from Barney McAuley and McCloskey trimmed Slaughtneil’s lead to two after the resumption but Slaughtneil’s heads dropped Loughgiel keeper Chris O’Connell brilliantly saved a well-struck McKenna penalty.
Another O’Kane free did extend Slaughtneil’s lead to three moments later but Loughgiel were soon on terms for the first time since the opening seconds as Casey netted from close range after an unselfish pass from McAuley.
A Tony McAuley point put Loughgiel ahead for the first time with 19 minutes remaining and the holders outscored the Derry side 0-7 to 0-3 during the remainder of the contest.
Loughgiel: C O’Connell; P Gillan, N McGarry, R McCloskey; T Coyle, M Scullion, O McFadden; M McFadden, T McCloskey (0-1); B McAuley (0-2), D Laverty (0-1), E McCloskey (2-2); B McCarry (0-1), S Casey (1-0), L Watson (0-7, 6f). Subs: D McCloskey for Coyle (47)
Slaughtneil: E McGuigan; K McKaigue, P Kearney, C Kearney; S Cassidy, C McKenna (1-3, 2f), J Mulholland; C O’Doherty, G O’Kane (0-6, 6f); G Bradley (0-2), D Kearney, C McKaigue (0-4, 1f); O O’Doherty, B Rodgers, S McGuigan. Subs: B Og Corbett for C Kearney (28), E Cassidy for D Kearney (39), F Kelly for Rodgers (52)
Referee: Brendan Sweeney (Cavan)
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