Referee Kevin Parke inspects the Whitehill pitch, accomanied by officals from both sides before declaring it playable
ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 1-17 Armoy 2-12
Tir na nOg came from six points down in dreadful underfoot conditions to beat Glen Rovers Armoy by two and ensure Division 2 hurling at Whitehill next year. Much of the debate before the game was about whether the Whitehill pitch was playable or not but after a long inspection and discussion with both sets of management referee Kevin Parke decided the game would go ahead.
Things finally got under way at 3-35 by which time the news was filtering through that Cathaoir an Ri, the third side involved in this relegation trilogy, were losing heavily at Corrigan Park so with all three on 10 points a draw would have ensured survival for either of these two.
It was clear from the throw in however that neither side were in the mood to countenance such a scenario as they went at it with real Championship gusto and Kevin Sheerin shot the home side in front with a point from a free in the opening minute.
They were rocked back on their heels however when Owen Kinney got in for a goal for the visitors in the 4th minute and when ‘Rocky’ Dillon’s effort was adjudged to have crossed the line following a mighty goalmouth scramble in the 9th minute it wasn’t looking good for the Whitehill side.
Points from Ciaran Logan and a Kevin Sheerin ‘65’ had it back to three by the 9th minute but Ciaran McErlain and Ronan McCarry responded with points for the Glen Rovers to extend their lead to five at the end of the opening quarter.
At this stage Tir na nOg introduced Conor Dougan for Kevin McCann and they responded with points from Kevin Sheerin and Caoimhinn Duffin and further exchanges by PJ McBride for Armoy and Duffin again saw the gap remain at three after 21 minutes.
Despite the poor underfoot conditions this game was being contested with real championship fervour with no quarter asked or given and was being allowed to flow by the man in the middle despite some tasty challenges.
Another couple of well struck frees from Ronan McCarry and points from Caoimhinn Duffin and Kevin Sheerin for Tir na nOg kept the gap at three and further exchanges by McCarry and Pearse Sheerin maintained the status quo as half time approached.
The final score of the half fell to the impressive McCarry who hoisted a long range free between the uprights and it was Glen Rovers who headed to the dressing room with a four point advantage as the half time whistle sounded.
BATTLE CONTINUED
The battle in the Whitehill mud continued on the restart and Kevin Sheerin looked to be in for a goal in the opening minute after keeper, Conor Devlin spilled the sliotar but a free out was awarded for a foul on the Armoy net minder.
Sheerin did open the scoring from a free but almost immediately Ronan McCarry replied with a free at the other end and then John Dillon and McCarry again split the uprights to push the visitors six in front and it seemed to be slipping away from the Randalstown side.
They responded however with Pearse Sheerin batting the ball to the net in the 12th minute when surrounded by defenders and when the usually accurate McCarry missed a free at the other end there was a sense that it might be swinging Tir na nOg’s way.
Pearse Sheerin set up Kevin Sheerin for a point to cut the gap to two after 19 minutes but Armoy were not about to roll over and points from Ronan McCarry and an excellent effort from Owen Kinney edged them four in front and seemingly back in control with nine minutes remaining.
The hard hits and strong challenges continued as the crowd urged their respective sides in this battle for Division 2 survival and it was Tir na nOg who responded again through Declan Mallon and a couple from the excellent Kevin Sheerin saw matters all square with a minute of normal time remaining.
An massive effort from Kevin ‘Scamper’ Sheerin looked to have given the Whitehill side the lead but after a heated argument involving players and officials from both sides that seemed to last for ever, referee Kevin Parke ruled that the sliotar had gone wide.
When the heat died down it was the home side who produced an epic finish with Pearse Sheerin pointing his side in front in the 36th minute and Kevin Sheerin putting them two in front with the last score of the game.
This win ensures Division 2 hurling at Whitehill next season and with Cathaoir an Ri suffering a heavy defeat away to league leaders St. John’s, Glen Rovers too will be plying their trade in the same division, thanks to their head to head wins over the Ballyvoy men and undoubtedly renewing acquaintances with their Randalstownn counterparts.
Tir na nOg: Rudi Graham: Daniel Martin, Kevin Kerr, Tony Martin: Connor Fitzgerald, Colm Duffin, Stephen Carey: Ryan O’Neill, Caoimhinn Duffin: Ciaran Logan, Pearse Sheerin, Ciaran McKeown: Declan Mallon, Kevin Sheerin, Kevin McCann.
Armoy: Conor Devlin: Gerald Laverty, Charles McCormick, Shane McCarry: Ronan McErlain, Daniel McPeake, Martin McErlain: Ciaran McErlain, Ronan McCarry: Thomas Burns, John Dillon, Conor O’Kane: PJ McBride, Owen Kinney, Liam Dillon. Subs:
Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)
