Bank of Ireland Conor McGurk Senior Hurling Tournament at QUB
Deaghlan Murphy who top scored for Antrim in their win over UUJ. Pic by John McIlwaine
Antrim 1-18 – Ulster University 2-3
Antrim won their opening game in the Conor McGurk Memorial Senior Hurling tournament at Queens University when they beat UU by twelve points at the Arena pitch at the Dub on Tuesday night in a game played in gale force winds and driving rain. In all the years I have covered hurling I have never seen a game played in such a wind as this and the amazing thing was that somehow the players on the pitch produced some fine hurling. Antrim free taker Deaglan Murphy was a good example, scoring a series of great points both from frees and open play as indeed was his Rossa clubman James Connolly who also displayed a high level of accuracy on the UU side.
Playing with a tempest at their backs Antrim took an early lead with a point from Ed McQuillan but UU were soon level when Creggan’s Kevin Rice answered for the students. Connolly edge Jordanstown ahead but Antrim came back with points from Dan McCloksey and Ed McQuillan, plus a goal from a twenty metre free from Deaghlan Murphy. UU came back with points from Peter McCann and Conor McHugh to leave just a goal between the sides but Antrim finished the half strongly and three points from Deaghlan Murphy and one apiece from Conor Carson and Maol Connolly gave them a 1-10 to 0-4 lead at the break.
Jim Connolly pulled a couple back for Jordanstown early in the second half to close the gap to seven but David Kearney from play and Murphy from a free restored the nine point advantage. Two more by Murphy in the 56th and 59th minutes had the gap out to eleven before Connolly gave the students hope with two quick goals, one from a free and the other from play to reduce the arrears to five with six minutes still to play. However it was to be UU’s last scores of the game and two more from Deaghlan Murphy and one apiece from James Connolly and Conor Carson left twelve between them at the end.
ANTRIM
Chrissy O’Connell, Callum Scullion, Ryan McGarry, Conor Carson (St John’s), Joe Maskey, Neal McAuley, Eamon Smyth, David Kearney, Ed McQuillan, James McNaughton, Conor Carson (Ruairi Og), Maol Connolly, Deaglan Murphy, Eoin O’Neill, Daniel McCloskey.
Subs – Sean Duffin and Aaron Crawford.
Ulster University
Paddy Carlin, Aidan Orchin, Tomas Burns, Conor Boyd, Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke, Mark Fisher, Conor McHugh, Malachy , James Connolly, Kevin rice, Johnny O’Dwyer, Daithi Sands, Emmet Laverty, Peter McCann.
Referee – James Connors (Donegal)
In the other Conor McGurk game played on Tuesday night hosts Queens University beat Down by 1-11 to 1-3