Swatragh Give Ulster Champs A Scare

Swatragh 0-07 Ballyglget 1-13

Swatragh made the long trek to Ballygalget on Wednesday past (31st May) to take on the Ulster Champions in the Ulster Hurling league. The Davitts made the trek more in hope than expectation missing several key men through a combination of exam commitments, injuries and holidays.

However the landslide defeat predicted in some quarters never looked like happening, as the Davitts put in a performance full of determination and skill. Indeed with ten minutes remaining only three points separated the sides, and a freak bounce gifted the home side the goal that sealed victory.

The first half was an extremely tight affair with both defences on top. Seamus O'Kane was in imperious form in the Davitt defence keeping danger man Martin Coulter Jnr out of the game almost entirely. With Micky Kirk launching attacks from centre half back Swatragh were well in contention at the interval trailing by 0-07 to 0-04.

The Swatragh forwards were working hard all the time and the McGuckin brothers caused the home defence plenty of problems. Eugene was unlucky when his goal bound shot rebounded off the angle of crossbar and post. A goal at that stage would have given Swatragh the lead.

With ten minutes remaining the score was 0-09 to 0-06 and delicatley poised, but a speculative long ball to a physics defying bounce and gave Swatragh keeper McFlynn no chance. As the Davitts chase the game in an attempt to narrow the gap, the home side tacked on a few more points as the game opened up a little.

It was an especially good performance from the Swatragh defence, and in truth the much vaunted Ballygalget attack never looked like goaling at any stage. Swatragh will take great encouragement from this performance, and hope to build on it against Glenariffe on Saturday.

Team and Scorers: P. McFlynn, S. McFerran, S. Bradley, S. O'Kane, N. O'Doherty, M. Kirkpatrick (0-01), N. McAtamney, J. McKeagney, D. McGuckin (0-01), A. Diamond, P. O'Kane, D. McNicholl (0-01), P. McQuillan (0-01), E. McGuckin (0-03).