HURLING FINALS
INNISKEEN……………..2-23
EAST CAVAN GAELS…4-14
COLM SHALVEY REPORTS
Inniskeen came out on top of an entertaining Senior Hurling League Final at home to East Cavan Gaels last Thursday. The county champions had influential performances in attack from top scorer Niall Arthur, as well as captain and Louth manager Trevor Hilliard, that helped them hold off a late surge from an away side led by some of Cavan’s main men, Canice Maher, Nicky Kenny and Liam O’Brien. Niall Arthur opened the scoring for Inniskeen, although East Cavan Gaels hit back swiftly with a goal from Dáire Leddy and points by county men Nicky Kenny and Liam O’Brien.
Having fallen four behind at one stage, Inniskeen gradually worked their way back into it, via scores from Niall Arthur, Trevor Hilliard and Mike Lyons. The visitors remained a point up in first-half added time, until Arthur hit the net to give Inniskeen a 1-11 to 1-9 interval lead. O’Brien and Arthur continued to trade points after the restart and although Inniskeen moved six clear, East Cavan Gaels stayed in touch with a goal from Canice Maher. Arthur stepped up again to help Inniskeen open up an eight-point gap and while Maher rattled a brace of frees to the net to complete his hat-trick, it was enough of a cushion for the Grattans to seal their fifth consecutive win of a productive league campaign…