DERRY SHC: Brilliant Banagher into final after defeating Kevin Lynch's

McGurk Chartered Architects Derry Senior Hurling Championship Semi-final
Kevin Lynch's Patrick Kelly and Ciaran O'Kane try to crowd out Banagher's Steafan McCloskey during Sunday's Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)Kevin Lynch's Patrick Kelly and Ciaran O'Kane try to crowd out Banagher's Steafan McCloskey during Sunday's Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)
Kevin Lynch's Patrick Kelly and Ciaran O'Kane try to crowd out Banagher's Steafan McCloskey during Sunday's Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)

Banagher 1-16, Kevin Lynch’s 0-14

There was plenty of drama in the opening quarter, Kevin Lynch’s - who were without leading player Mark Craig with a quad injury - very much out of sorts against a rampant Banagher who built a 1-6 to no score by the 15th minute.

Shane Farren put Banagher a point ahead with a long range free in the opening minute but then blazed the sliothar wide from a penalty when Oisin McCloskey was fouled in the goalmouth. Pauric McCloskey and Farren from another free increased the lead.

Kevin Lynch's Corey O'Reilly tries to halt the run of Banagher's Gabriel Farren during the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)Kevin Lynch's Corey O'Reilly tries to halt the run of Banagher's Gabriel Farren during the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)
Kevin Lynch's Corey O'Reilly tries to halt the run of Banagher's Gabriel Farren during the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)
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In the 10th minute Pauric McCloskey put Oisin McCloskey through on the angle and he blasted the sliothar to the net for 1-3 to no score.

Moments later Kevin Lynch’s were reduced to 14 players when Liam Hinphey was shown a straight red card for pulling off the helmet of a Banagher player and that proved a massive blow to their chances in the second half when they had the advantage of the very strong wind.

Banagher were denied a second goal in the 13th minute when Lynch’s keeper Brian Lagan saved brilliantly from Steafan McCloskey, Kevin Lynch’s spurning a goal chance themselves in the 21st minute when Ciaran Herron fired the sliothar wide from a penalty.

By half-time, Farren had scored 0-5, one from a ‘65’ and one from open play as Banagher extended their lead to 1-9 to 0-5, Niall Ferris scoring two excellent points for Lynch’s in the closing minutes of the half.

Kevin Lynch's Corey O'Reilly tries to halt the run of Banagher's Gabriel Farren during the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)Kevin Lynch's Corey O'Reilly tries to halt the run of Banagher's Gabriel Farren during the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)
Kevin Lynch's Corey O'Reilly tries to halt the run of Banagher's Gabriel Farren during the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday at Owenbeg. (Picture Margaret McLaughlin)
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In the opening minutes of the second period Pauric McCloskey and Shane Farren had goal-bound shots blocked in the goalmouth, Kevin Lynch’s unable to create a serious goal threat despite a lot of pressure and five third quarter wides.

Corey O’Reilly chipped away at the lead with three points from play, Gavan McCormick converting a couple of frees but Shane Farren took his tally to 0-10, 0-8 from frees, as Banagher cruised into their first final since 2012.

Banagher scorers: Shane Farren 0-10 (8f), Oisin McCloskey 1-0, Ciaran Lynch 0-2, P McCloskey, Steafan McCloskey, Darragh Cartin and Brian Óg McGilligan 0-1 each

Kevin Lynch’s scorers: Corey Armstrong 0-3, Niall Ferris 0-2, Gavan McCormick 0-2f, Kevin Hinphey 0-2, Conor McElhinney, Ciaran Herron free, Odhran McKeever, Ciaran Steele and Tomas Brady 0-1 each

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Banagher: Darrell McDermott; Niall Farren, Ruairi McCloskey, Gabriel Farren; Darragh McCloskey, Sean McCullagh, Ciaran Lynch; Mark Lynch, Brian Óg McGilligan; Pauric McCloskey, Steafan McCloskey, Tiarnan McCloskey; Shane Farren, Oisin McCloskey, Darragh Cartin. (Subs) John O’Dwyer for T McCloskey 48 mins; Aedan McGrellis for D Cartin 60 mins

Kevin Lynch’s: Brian Lagan; Donal Kelly, Conal McCloskey, Paddy Kelly; Ciaran Herron, Aaron McCloskey, Ciaran O’Kane; Tomas Brady, Mark McCormick; Niall Ferris, Kevin Hinphey, Gavan McCormick; Conor McElhinney, Liam Hinphey, Corey O’Reilly. (Subs) Ciaran Mackle for M McCormick 33 mins; Odhran McKeever for C McElhinney 33 mins; Ciaran Steele for C O’Kane 40 mins; Conor Kelly for D Kelly 56 mins.

Referee Paddy McEldowney (Ballinascreen)

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