Lavey hurlers defeat Swatragh to book Intermediate final spot

Lavey 1-17, Swatragh 1-13

A late Lorcan McDonnell goal sealed Lavey's passage through to a Leadon Timber Frame Derry Intermediate Championship final meeting with Banagher at Find Insurance Owenbeg next Sunday.

Johnny McGarvey's men were well worth the victory which drops Swatragh into the Junior decider against Ballinascreen, substitute McDonnell taking advantage of great work by Rian Collins to fire home the game's decisive score with only two minutes of the 60 remaining.

The goal gave the Erin's Own a six point cushion and while there was still time for an injury time Sean Marty Quinn major for the Davitt's, Lavey's impressive second half display deserved to edge an excellent semi-final.

The sides were level five times across the hour with little between the sides until the closing 10 minutes. Lavey's display was platformed by a superb defensive unit in which John McGurk and Darragh Young were outstanding.

Lavey started with the wind at their backs first half with the ever reliable Fintan Bradley getting them up and running with a first minute free, a score that was quickly added to by Collins (f) and Sam Dodds for 0-3 to no score. With James Friel sweeping, Swatragh opened their account thanks a great run and point from Cathal Murray five minutes in, Friel then adding the first of six frees he would score across the game.

Aimon Duffin and Derry's Christy Ring Cup final hero, Connor Melaugh, reinstated Lavey's three point advantage but Friel's prowess from placed balls was keeping Swatragh within touching distance. Indeed The Davitt’s should have claimed the game's opening goal 15 minutes in when an excellent solo run by Cathal Murray took him in on goal but his shot was too close to Lavey No. 1 Dan Mulholland who saved well.

Friel (f) and Ryan McGarvey exchanged scores, the latter's a lovely first time flicked finish, before Tiarnan Walsh and Bradley did likewise for 0-7 to 0-4 with 18 minutes gone.

Five minutes later the teams were level for the first time following three successive Friel frees, Brendan Bradley then edging Swatragh ahead for the first and only time in the contest at 0-8 to 0-7 just five minutes from the break.

Lavey's response was excellent and instantaneous, Melaugh superbly catching a puck out to turn and point, a fine score which was followed by Bradley's huge 80m free to ensure the Erin's Own led 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time.

Three further times in the third quarter Swatragh would tie the game up but each time Lavey found a response, Friel and Bradley swapping frees before Murray's point was cancelled out by one from Collins.

Lavey, whose greater second half discipline limited Friel’s free taking opportunities, were indebted to Darragh Young on 40 minutes when the defenders's crucial block denied Dom Bradley's goalbound effort. The Davitt's consolation was seeing playing brought back for an earlier free which Friel pointing for 0-11 apiece.

But Swatragh never quite got their noses in front and the longer the second half wore on, the more Lavey felt in control.

A 41st minute Collins free handed Lavey a lead they would not relinquish with Niall Duggan and Collins again - either side of a Fintan McGurk score - taking the lead out to 0-15 to 0-12 with eight minutes remaining.

Swatragh were still well in contention but a failure to string three or four successive scores together meant they were always playing catch-up as Sean Marty Quinn's point was quickly followed by Tiernan Melaugh splitting the posts at the other end.

Swatragh needed a goal but unfortunately for the Davitt's, when it arrived it was Lavey who scored it. And if McDonnell was the goalscorer, it owed everything to the superb work of Collins who held off two Swatragh defenders before swivelling free to hand off for the supporting McDonnell to shot low and into the net for 1-16 to 0-13.

Swatragh almost had an instant reply when another Cathal Murray run was only stopped by another first class Mulholland save and they would eventually find the net, but by the time Sean Marty Quinn was firing home four minutes into stoppage time, Lavey focus had already shifted to what looks an intriguing Intermediate final against Banagher.

Swatragh scorers: Sean Marty Quinn 1-1, James Friel 0-6 (6f), Cahal Murray 0-1, Aimon Duffin 0-1, Tiernan Walsh 0-1, Brendan Bradley 0-1, Shea Walsh 0-1 (1f), Fintan McGurk 0-1.

Lavey scorers: Lorcan McDonnell 1-0, Fintan Bradley 0-4 (3f), Rian Collins 0-4 (3f), Connor Melaugh 0-2, Sam Dodds 0-1, Niall Duggan 0-1, Raymond Duggan 0-2, Tiarnan Melaugh 0-1,

Swatragh: Niall McQuillan, Cathal Quinn, Patrick Turner, Ben Kearney, Sean Francis Quinn, Tiernan Walsh, Daire O Laoclainn, Conor Murray, Cathal Murray, Brendan Bradley, Fintan McGurk, Sean Marty Quinn, Dom Bradley, James Friel, Shea Walsh. (Subs) Cathal J Quinn for J Friel, 37-41mins (blood sub); Cathal J Quinn for S Walsh, 41mins; John McKeagney for SF Quinn (inj), 47mins; Eoghan O'Kane for D Bradley, 50mins.

Lavey: Dan Mulholland, Darragh Young, Eoin Scullion, John McGurk, Aidy Toner, Brendan Laverty, Tiernan Melaugh, Ryan McGarvey, Sam Dodds, Fintan Bradley, Raymond Duggan, Connor Melaugh, Rian Collins, Niall Duggan, Aimon Duffin. (Subs) Seghae Melaugh for E Scullion (inj), 32mins; Lorcan McDonnell for A Duffin, 44mins; Ryan Farren for C Melaugh, 61mins.

Referee: Owen Elliott