Lisbellaw and Fermanagh’s John Duffy was on the losing side
Lisbellaw 0-14
Tir Na nOg 2 -14
ANTRIM champions, Tir Na Og of Antrim were deserving winners of this always entertaining Táin Ulster League Division 2 final at Garvaghey, but Lisbellaw put in a terrific second-half effort to outscore their opponents and secure a morale victory.
At halftime, they trailed by 0-5 to 2-9, Tit na nOg getting off to the best possible start with five unanswered points.
The game was 15 minutes on before Lisbellaw got their opening score, a pointed free from Sean Corrigan.
But, it only sparked off retaliation on a big scale from the opposition, Malachy Duffin blasting home their first goal and his brother, Colm getting his side’s fourth point.
But, Far from undaunted by this 0-1 to 1-4 gap, Lisbellaw, through Corrigan and John Duffy to respond with two points from frees.
The play was now fast and furious, although there was no sign of the Tir na nOg lessening their scoring grip, three more points being tagged on in as many minutes.
With less than 10 minutes to the, the Antrim champions stamped their authority on the game to lead by 2-9 to 0-5 at the break.
It followed an exchage of points between Corrigan and Kevin Sheerin, and the last-named then drove home his side’s second goal.
To their credit, Lisbellaw outscored the opposition, by 0-9 to 0-5 in the second half to gain something of a moral reward for their efforts against a team from a ‘hurling’ county.
And, they did it despite going further behind.
Their fight-back began with a couple of points from midfielder and captain, John Duffy, but his forwards found the Tir na nOg defence a hard nut to crack.
Time and time again, attacks were repelled, but, with the game entering the final, and time running out, a sense of panic had set in.
And, yet, like true ambassadors for their county, Lisbellaw were prepared to battle to the end, and they set about their mission with renewed zeal and confidence.
Their reward? – a a triple of points, firstly from Ryan Bogue and then Sean Corrigan, with John Duffy completing the hat-trick.
But, as ever, Tir Na nOg were able to notch a few handy points to ensure victory.