Forker points the way

ST. PATRICK'S DUNGANNON...3-15 ST. MARY'S GALWAY...1-4: Paul Forker scored a goal and six points as rampant St Patrick's, Dungannon, cruised to victory over St Mary's, Galway, at Markievicz Park, Sligo, yesterday to book their passage to the All-Ireland Colleges football final.

The Maghery left-corner forward ran the show as the Tyrone boys gave a superb exhibition of fast, skilful football.

Kevin McGuckin got the Ulster champions off the mark with a point after just one minute and the Dungannon college were eight points in front when St Mary's captain Greg Rogan opened his side's account after 27 minutes.

By the half-time interval St Patrick's were leading by 0-10 to 0-1.

Forker scored his goal three minutes after the restart following a defence-splitting move involving James Lavery and James Grimley. That goal truly ended the game as a real contest.

The Ulster champions were 15 points ahead by the time Rogan got the Connacht champions' second point on 40 minutes.

James Lavery bagged St Patrick's second goal in the 51st minute before substitute Eddie Hoare scored a consolation goal for St Mary's on the stroke of fulltime.

St Patrick's added to their opponents miserable afternoon when James Grimley netted in stoppage time after Eoin Coyle's pile driver of a shot rebounded off the post.

ST PATRICK'S: P Laverty; R McGurk, D Lynch, P Girvan; D McCaul, S O'Hagan, M Murray (0-2); E Laverty, R Mulgrew (0-1); C O'Neill (0-3), G McCaughey, K McGuckin (0-1); J Grimley (1-1, point from free), J Lavery (1-1), P Forker (1-6, one free). Subs: B Donaghy for O'Hagan (half-time), O Coyle for Lavery (53 mins), B O'Neill for Forker (53 mins), P Corry for McGurk (55 mins).

ST MARY'S: D Whyte; C Glynn, G Begley, D Forde; D Byrnes, G Bradshaw, K O'Connor; R McCann, C Bohan; P Marley, G Rogan (0-3, one free), P Lydon (0-1, free); E Concannon, D O'Connell, D Lee. Subs: J Ruane for Marley (25 mins), E Hoare (1-0) for R Concannon (46 mins), F Callanan for Byrnes (47 mins).

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).

Paul Lavery hit a sparkling 1-12 total as Tyrone extended their unbeaten run in Division One B of the National Hurling League with a 2-21 to 2-9 victory over Louth at Omagh yesterday.

Lavery swept over a succession of points, from frees and play, as Tyrone took the game to their visitors from the outset.

David Dunne's proficiency from long-range frees represented Louth's sole scoring threat, and they fell further behind when Peter McErlean grabbed Tyrone's first goal midway through the first half.

Tyrone led by 1-12 to 0-5 at the break, and while Ger Collins led a Louth revival with a goal, Lavery hit back with a goal from a free.

Trevor Hilliard smacked home a second Louth goal, but Tyrone tagged on five more points.