Oulart end Shels’ double dream

Oulart-the-Ballagh 0-17 Shelmaliers 0-10

Shelmaliers bid to complete the double — with a senior football semi-final on Sunday next — faded after a promising opening 40 minutes, but they had little answer once the reigning champions stepped up the tempo of their game in the closing quarter.

After Michael Jacob and Brian Malone had exchanged opening points, the sides were still deadlocked at 0-3 each at the end of the opening quarter. Deteriorating ground conditions made it difficult for players, but through the accuracy of Conor Byrne from frees, Ciaran Shaughnessy and Joe Kelly, the challengers edged into a 0-8 to 0-4 lead approaching the interval. A Des Mythen point reduced the deficit to three points at the break.