In association with Madden's Bar
Antrim Junior Hurling Championship
Group Two
Gort na Móna 3-21
Davitts 3-12
At Hannahstown
PATRICK McCaffrey shined for Gort na Móna, netting twice as they managed to edge past their rivals Davitt's in the final game to decide who would top the group in the Junior Hurling Championship Group Two.
The hosts fell behind to an early goal as Davitt's looked to cause an upset when the net was found inside the opening minutes after Anthony Rowntree managed to block down a clearance from the Gort na Móna shot-stopper and the Beechmount side looked ready to take control.
Desi McLean stepped up and planted a number of frees between the sticks to reignite his side's hope of clinching top spot and he firmly sent them on their way to glory with a terrific point which saw the forward strike a white flag beautifully from a side-line to level the tie.
Sean Smyth got his first of many for Davitt's when he planted a terrific point from distance, but the Mona-Bypass men soon ramped up their efforts when Ruairi Scullion buried an effort from close range to level the goal tally and stretch Gort's lead.
Eventually the man of the moment, Patrick McCaffrey, would strike a brace of quick scores as his side stretched further in front but it was not to be an easy stroll to victory.
Davitt's hit back with a net-buster when Anthony Rowntree grasped a loose strike from Paul Reid before rounding the keeper and blasting home to firmly etch themselves back in the tie.
The Beechmount side found a third goal when Sean Smyth's 65-yard free dropped short, but fortunately it escaped the clutches of Caolan McCrory before falling into the net and bringing the sides within touching distance.
Desi McClean and Patrick McCaffrey added tallies for their side, along with Thomas McCaffrey who struck twice in quick succession to find Gort still in control as the half-time whistle neared.
Gort na Mona achieved first spot in the group after victory over Davitt's
Four-points were the difference at the time of the small whistle which sounded after Smyth powered over a strike for the Davitt's and eased the half-time deficit slightly for his side.
Gort started the better when the game resumed and scores from Neil Henry and McClean kept the scoreboard ticking with Darron Boyd adding another great white flag for the maroon side.
Eventually Gort found the back of the net for a second-time. McLean fired a pass into the path of Scullion, who despite dropping the sliotar, struck a pass into the path of McCaffrey who thumped a great goal into the empty net.
The rhythm maintained with the maroon men and Davitt's struggled to cope with the pressure in the second-half, as Desi McClean ramped up more free-taking expertise and managed to flash multiple scores with ease as Davitt's could not find the answer.
The only thing that eluded McClean was the net as he struck both the post and the upright throughout the course of the game.
Sean Smyth found his range and kept the Beechmount side within a puncher's chance as he fired over three frees in succession as the game threatened to boil over with multiple flashpoints which were judged to be fair-play by the referee.
Despite a late momentum switch in favour of Davitt's, courtesy largely to Smyth's superb ability to find white flags and drag his side back in contention, the game was virtually put to bed when Patrick McCaffrey found his second goal five minutes from time.
After a scrambled clearance following a launched free from the defensive half, the ball fell to McCaffrey who rattled the top-corner of the net in Hannahstown and the roar from the Gort na Móna bench could be felt.
Despite another late couple of Davitt's scores, the deficit was too large and when McClean handed the free-taking duties over to McCaffrey to round-off the game, Gort na Móna knew that a home semi-final awaited them in four weeks' time.
A game which was closer on paper than on the pitch, but the spirited Davitt's can take heart from their performance knowing they still can find a pathway to the final.
Gort na Móna now can rest-up whilst they await their semi-final opponents who they will welcome to a tight-pitch in Turf Lodge in September.
Gort na Mona XV: C McCrory; T Ó Cadhlaigh, G McKenna, C Connolly; T Morton, D Keenan, M Rea; P McCaffrey 2-6 (0-1F), N Henry 0-2; T McCaffrey 0-3, S Doyle 0-1, N Healy; R Scullion 1-0; D McClean 0-9 (0-7F)
Davitt's XV: A McLaughlin; J Winters, C Heaney, N Maginn; O Heaney, D Mooney, M Rowntree; C Gallagher, P Carleton; M Toner 0-2, S Smyth 1-9 (1-6F), C Maguire; P Reid, A Rowntree 2-0, C Rainey 0-1
