SHC: Swatragh 1-12 Banagher 5-09

From derrygaa.ie

Five was the magic number for Banagher on Tuesday evening as the goal-scoring ability of last year’s beaten county finalists accounted for Swatragh at the quarter-final stage of the McGurk Chartered Architects Senior Hurling Championship at O’Cahan Park.

Shane McLaughlin, Mark Lynch and John O’Dwyer all rattled the back of the Davitts’ net, while Gary Stevenson notched two as goals yet again proved the difference between two sides that were actually well matched for long periods, particularly in the first half.

While Swatragh played well in patches, they were opened up far too often at the back and their inside defence was posted absence on several occasions in the first half.  The warning signs came when Banagher’s second attack of the match ended with the ball in the back of the net thanks to Shane McLaughlin’s powerful run and driven shot that skewed off Paul McFlynn’s hurl and ended up behind him.

Every time they came forward, the Swa’ goal was under siege and only for some desperate last-ditch defending and a bit of good fortune, Banagher could have been out of sight by half time.  Swatragh had to strain every sinew for their scores while the St. Mary’s side seemed to find space in abundance when they ran at the opposition defence.

In Michael Kirkpatrick, Swatragh had a powerful youngster with the capability of unhinging the Banagher rearguard but he was too often isolated inside before being brought out to midfield, where he played brilliantly but found himself too far from goal to pose the problems of which is capable.

Ruairi Convery looked set for a momentous return to the fold with two points in the first four minutes but he faded badly and a missed free on the stroke of half-time seemed to completely destroy his confidence.

Gerard Devlin, brought in from Armagh to referee the tie, blew the half-time whistle with just three points separating the sides.  Swatragh thrice held the lead in the opening fifteen minutes, 1-04 to 1-02 up at that particular juncture thanks in part to Michael McKenna’s goal after he reacted quickest to a Convery shot hitting the post.

But in an eight minute period during which they failed to score, Banagher ignited once more and Mark Lynch’s superb right wing solo and finish for the point which preceded his goal was the highlight of a blistering spell which yielded an unanswered 1-04.

When Lynch scored his goal (which Paul McFlynn might be slightly upset about given that the ball bounced past him), Banagher led by five but the pendulum swung back down green and white way before the interval as they dominated the closing minutes.

But those closing six minutes only served to highlight the primary difference in the sides.  While Banagher were ruthlessly efficient in the main, Swatragh had five chances in that period but scored just two of them as Convery and Kirkpatrick missed frees, while young Darrell McDermott enhanced his ever-growing reputation with a great save down low to his right from Conor Quinn.

Still, Roger Anthony Quinn’s side retreated to the changing rooms well in touch with the side considered strong favourites to best challenge Kevin Lynch’s for their title again this year.  At 2-06 to 1-06, one puck of the sliotar separated them but Gary Stevenson’s first puck of the second half extended that gap by a further three and from then on, Swatragh never came close.

Gregory Biggs’ dropping free was flicked home by Stevenson and the former’s brother, Gary, followed that up with his only score of the night from a free – one of only two Banagher scores not to come from play.  Fergal McKay pointed seconds after his introduction for the ineffective PJ McCloskey before, in the 45th minute, Stevenson grabbed the ball and lashed home from all of a yard after Mark Lynch’s strike had been brilliantly kept out by the unfortunate McFlynn.

And that was that, without the icing.  But then Declan McNicholl and John O’Dwyer challenged for a long ball and it appeared as though the O’Keefe medallist corner-back directed the ball into his own net.  Icing made with buttermilk, I suppose.

Swatragh battled gamely and owned the last ten minutes but the North Derry side were quite comfortable in holding them at arm’s length, restricting them to long range strikes or attempts at goal only from frees, which were all kept out.

However, the Banagher stroll was impaired by the straight dismissal of midfielder Shane McLaughlin for a crudely mistimed shoulder into the chest of Martin Quinn down along the sideline, an action that will see him miss his side’s semi-final with Lavey at least.

Four points were all Swatragh could muster as a riposte and their campaign ended without a third senior Championship victory in their history.  Banagher continue to the last four but with many questions still unanswered.  In truth, they faced a decent Swatragh team who seemed just to lack the ability to keep it tight around their own goals.

Banagher restricted them to 1-06 from play, but the concession of scoreable frees would be worrying from their perspective.  Lavey will not fear them but they will only be wise if they are well prepared for a thorough examination.  There are flaws in Banagher’s game but there are flaws in Lavey’s too, and the semi-final should be worth a look.

Banagher: Darrell McDermott; Ruairi McCloskey, Ryan Lynch, Colin Simpson; Sean Martin Lockhart, Peter O’Kane, Conor Lynch; Gregory Biggs (0-01f), Shane McLaughlin (1-00); Mark Lynch (1-01), Gary Biggs (0-01f), John O’Dwyer (0-03); PJ McCloskey, Gary Stevenson (2-01), Oisin McCloskey (0-01).

Subs used: Fergal McKay (0-01) for PJ McCloskey (34); Darragh McCloskey for Conor Lynch (52).

Swatragh: Paul McFlynn; Declan McNicholl, Seamus Bradley, Paddy O’Kane; Cathal McQuillan, Michael Conway, Martin Quinn; James McKeagney (0-01), Declan McGuckin; Ruairi Convery (0-05, 3f), Sean McNicholl, Conor Quinn; Eugene McGuckin, Michael Kirkpatrick (0-04, 2f), Michael McKenna (1-01).

Subs used: Martin Dillon for Declan McNicholl (47); Conor Scullion for Conor Quinn (52).

Referee: Gerard Devlin (Armagh).