Cross & Passion impress in semi-final victory

CROSS & Passion College Ballycastle turned in a magnificent display to book their place in the final of the All Ireland B Colleges Hurling (O'Keefe Cup) at the expense of Galway and Connacht champions St Raphael's Loughrea in Saturday's semi-final in Swords, Dublin.

The Ulster champions, who last season won this competition for the first time, were full value for their win with all but five of their 2-18 total coming from open play. With Conor Laverty in great form at midfield the Ballycastle boys were always on top and had four points on the board before the Galway team registered their first score.

Galway minor player Neil Keary brought Loughrea back to within a point, but Cross & Passion pushed on a strong finish to the opening half saw them hit four more unanswered points to open up a commanding 0-13 to 0-6 lead.

A brilliantly struck goal from Stephen McAfee early in the second-half appeared to have put the 'Convent' in complete control, but the Galway boys then had their best spell of the game and hit back with a goal from top scorer Keary to put the outcome back in the melting pot.

However Cross & Passion made sure of their place in the final when good approach work by Shane Jennings and James Black set top score Ciaran Clarke up for a goal that secured a memorable victory and booked a final place against Munster and Waterford champions Dungarven CBS on March 27th.

Scorers – C Clarke 1-6; S McAfee 1-2; J Black 0-4; S Jennings 0-2; C Laverty 0-2; J McShane 0-1.

Cross & Passion – S McGinn, P Blaney, M Donnelly, K McLernon, N Murray, D McPeake, D Donnelly, J McCouaig, C Laverty, J Black, J McShane, S Jennings, C Clarke, S McAfee, R McCloskey.