CASTLEBLAYNEY SEE OFF CARRICK TO ADD ANOTHER TITLE TO CABINET

Colm Shalvey reports

The AM Hurleys Senior and Junior Hurling Championship Finals took centre stage in Clontibret last Sunday, producing two contrasting games. Castleblayney remain as dominant as ever in the SHC after completing their second five-in-a-row since the turn of the century with a convincing win over Carrickmacross. It was a fourth consecutive double-digits final win for Blayney, who have now lifted 19 SHC titles since 1999.

Carrickmacross, who reached this stage for the first time since 2005 after a progressive year, showed spirit in a much-improved second-half effort, but the damage had been done in a game where they sorely missed the influence of Jamie Guinan. Jimmy Lacey’s side will now be looking forward to another Ulster Club campaign later in the year.

The JHC went down to the wire, with Monaghan Harps narrowly holding off Inniskeen to atone for their 2020 final defeat and secure a return to the senior ranks. Inniskeen, who won three SHC titles between 2010 and 2016 to briefly halt Castleblayney’s dominance…