Loughgiel on title march
The Antrim side seized the early initiative in Owenbeg through a goal from man of the match Benny McCarry after eight minutes.
That goal gave Loughgiel a cushion they never relinquished. Ballygalget, by contrast, had a poor first half and trailed by 1-8 to 0-4 at the interval.
The Down champions were much livelier in the second half and Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson grabbed a goal back after 37 minutes.
But Loughgiel were always comfortable and had seven different players on the scoresheet compared to Ballygalget’s four.
Scorers for Loughgiel: B McCarry 1-4, L Watson 0-6 (4f) S Casey 0-2, D McKinley, B McAuley, D Laverty, E McCloskey 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballygalget: D Toner 0-5 (2f), G Johnson 1-1 (0-1f), C Bailie 0-2 (1f), G Dynes 0-1.
LOUGHGIEL: D Quinn; P Gillan, N McGarry, R McCloskey; T Coyle, M Scullion, O McFadden; M McFadden, T McCloskey; M Connolly, D Laverty, E McCloskey; B McCarry, S Casey, L Watson.
Subs: D McKinley for Connolly (h-t), B McAuley for T McCloskey (50), D McCloskey for E McCloskey (53), S Dobbin for Laverty (58).
BALLYGALGET: G Clarke; S Clarke, S Johnson, P McManus; S Bailie, J McGrath, B Toner; E Clarke, G Clarke; J McManus, D McManus, C Bailie; G Dynes, G Johnson, D Toner.
Subs: J Smyth for S Johnson (30), A Smyth for D McManus (45), K McGreevy for Dynes (50).
Referee: Eamonn Hasson (Derry).
