Biggs shoots down Ballinascreen to send Banagher into Intermediate hurling final

Banagher 0-14, Ballinascreen 0-12

Ruairi Biggs' free taking proved decisive as Banagher booked their place in the Leadon Timber Frame Intermediate Hurling Championship final with victory over Ballinascreen in a dour round three clash at Find Insurance Owenbeg on Sunday.

Neither side was at their best, especially in a first half dominated by poor shooting as the St, Mary's hit eight wides to 'Screen's six but the one man whose radar seemed unaffected was Biggs who finished with a personal tally of 0-11, 0-10 of which came from frees.

The corner-forward was switched to frees 13 minutes in after Darragh Cartin saw two efforts drift wide and one short and it was Biggs’ accuracy that means Banagher will be facing Lavey next Sunday while 'Screen drop to the Junior final where they will play Swatragh.

Even the normally reliable Paul Cleary was having difficulty as the 'Screen sharpshooter sent three successive first half frees wide alongside another effort from play. It was that sort of day for forwards amid a swirling Owenbeg breeze.

Ironically the game opened with two great scores, Biggs firing over his only score from play inside the opening minute and then watching Darragh Cartin produce a sublime long range effort for 0-2 to no score.

When Conor Murtagh forced a foul after robbing Banagher No. 1 Darrel McDermott, it gave Cleary his first free of the afternoon and got 'Screen on the board four minutes in, the same player drawing his team level from another placed ball two minutes later.

'Screen hit the front on 11 minutes through a Ger Dillon point but it would be the only time in the match they held the advantage, the lead lasting two minutes before Biggs' first free restored parity.

In a game of few goal chances, 'Screen should have been celebrating 13 minutes in when Dillon's excellent run fed Jude Connery who stepped inside his marker but flashed his shot inches the wrong side of the post.

And Banagher made 'Screen pay as Fionn Cartin fired them back in front before another Biggs free made it a five point swing as St. Mary's led 0-5 to 0-3.

But 'Screen weren't about to lie down and responded through Aodhan O'Hagan and Dillon to level for a third time in the half though it would be Bangher would finished the half stronger. Two frees from Biggs either side of a Fionn Cartin effort had St. Mary's 0-8 to 0-5 up and while Cleary's free reduced the deficit, 'Screen had work to do second half.

However it was Banagher, and Biggs who grabbed the second half initiative early on as the St. Mary's free taker hit three unanswered efforts in seven minutes to extend his team’s lead to five at 0-11 to 0-6. Those two periods either side of half-time won Banagher the game.

'Screen actually outscored Banagher six points to three over the remaining 20 odd minutes but with with Biggs tagging on a further three frees it left 'Screen with too much to do. They did have the game back to within two points at 0-12 to 0-10 with 12 minutes remaining but never quite had the firepower to close the gap fully as Banagher kept their opponents arm's length to book their spot in the Intermediate final.

Banagher scorers: Ruairi Biggs 0-11 (10f), Darragh Cartin 0-1, Fionn Cartin 0-2.

Ballinascreen scorers: Paul Cleary 0-4 (4f), Ger Dillon 0-2, Aodhan O'Hagan 0-1, Jude Connery 0-3 (3f), Ryan Scullion 0-1.

Banagher: Darrell McDermott, Paul Murphy, Gabriel Farren, Cathair McGilligan, Cathal O'Kane, Darragh McCloskey, Odhran Burke, Shane Murphy, Keelan O'Kane, Oisin McCloskey, Darragh Cartin, Brian Og McGilligan, Ruairi Biggs, Stefan McCloskey, Fionn Cartin. (Subs) Ruairi McWilliams for A O'Hagan (blood sub) 28-31mins; Tiarnan McCloskey for B Og McGilligan, HT; Ben McCullagh for O McCloskey, 54mins; Eoin Cartin for S Murphy (inj), 62mins.

Ballinascreen: Martin Mulgrew, Shea Murray, Jamie Lee McGlade, Andy McBride, James O'Connor, Ciaran Doyle, Aodhan O'Hagan, Shane Grant, Paul McNicholl, Mikey Kennedy, Reece McSorley, Ger Dillon, Paul Cleary, Conor Murtagh, Jude Connery. (Subs) James McDaid for J O'Connor (inj), 23mins; Ryan Scullion for M Kennedy, HT; Ciaran McBride for S Grant, 37mins; Caolan Connery for J Connery, 48mins.

Referee: Ciaran O'Kane (Swatragh)