Lavey retain Patrick Higgins shield

Today saw history wrote into the record books in the Patrick Higgins Memorial Tournament. In it's 7th year Lavey became not only the first team to win the competition for the second time they also became the first team to successfully retain the title they won 12 months ago.

With the early start to proceeding due to the Ulster Semi Final taking place in Omagh in the afternoon it was Ballinascreen and Bellaghy whogot off to the flying starts in their league sections with wins over Moneymore and Kilrea.

The hosts kicked off their leage section with a defeat to the now in form Bellaghy with Lavey starting to show their class in the other league section, seeing off Moenymore to book their place in the semi finals along with Ballinascreen from their league.

The other league was not as straight forward and following a tight deciding game between Kilrea and Desertmartin where the winner would book their place in the semi final it was Kilrea who seen off the challenge of the local lads in extra time.

The semi final pairing seen Ballinascreen up against Kilrea and Bellaghy taking on Lavey. Althought both the screen and Bellaghy had started the day in fine form and both toped their league tables the momentium was truly with Lavey and Kilrea in the later stages of the day with both teams seeing off their challengers to book a place in the final.

With both teams having previously won the tournament, history was about to get written.

The final started off brightly with both teams showing the class that had seen them reach the final and with Lavey a couple of points down going into the final seconds a late goal seen them clinch the title in what turned out to be the final kick of the game.

Photo's to follow