St Patrick’s ​Cullyhanna come from behind to win pulsating Ulster final against Ballyhaise

​St Patrick’s Cullyhanna are Ulster Intermediate Football champions, as they came from behind to defeat Ballyhaise 1-10 to 0-12 in Clones on Sunday.

Ballyhaise gave the Armagh champions everything they had and after a strong first half performance led the game 0-7 to 0-4 – which could have been more if not for an outstanding finger tip save by St Pat’s goalkeeper James Carragher, as he kept out a Kevin Tierney shot which was headed for the top corner of the net.

Played on a heavy pitch after a week of poor weather, the final was a war of attrition and with 15 minutes to go, Cullyhanna trailed by four and looked to be fading out of the game.

That was until Shea Hoey forced a turnover 45 metres out from goal, and Ross McQuillan worked the ball to Tony Donnelly, who fed Caolan Reavey and the 21-year-old forward buried his chance into the bottom corner.

That brought the large Cullyhanna support to their feet, but the game remained in the melting pot right up until the final minute of added time.

As the clocked ticked down and the game appeared to be headed for extra-time, Aidan Nugent – who wasn’t fully fit and didn’t have the type of day in front of the posts that spectators have become accustomed to during Cullyhanna’s Championship run – spotted his captain Pearse Casey in the full forward line and had enough in the tank to pick him out with an inch-perfect pass.

Casey took possession, set himself on his favoured left foot and created history, splitting the posts to send the Ulster Intermediate title back to Cullyhanna – Armagh’s first ever winners of the competition.

For full match report and reaction see this week’s Newry Reporter – in shops Wednesday December 13!