North Antrim Feile na nGael
Niall McGarel wheels away after scoring his second goal. Pic by John McIlwaine
Glenariffe Oisins 4-6 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-6
Glenariffe booked their place in the final of the North Antrim Feile na nGael when they beat Loughgiel in Saturday evening’s penultimate game in the round robin series and will now most likely meet the Shamrocks again in that final in two weeks’ time.
After winning the toss Glenariffe opted to play with the fresh breeze at their backs and they were first to score when Daniel Kearney sent over a great point from play. Loughgiel levelled in seventh minute through Ronan McCollum but less than a minute later the home side struck a telling blow when Niall McGarell fired in a goal from a narrow angle on the left.
Glenariffe were now well on top and after Brogan O’Connor stretched their lead with a point from play full forward John V Morgan got in for this team’s second goal in the eleventh minute. Five minutes later the fans who were there witnessed something very special when Niall McGarel scored one of the best goals I have seen for years. Full back Odhran Gillan came out to take a free inside his fifty metre line and with the wind behind him sent the ball all the way to the Loughgiel twenty metre line. As the ball dropped from the sky McGarel ran in behind the Loughgiel defence at full speed, and without breaking stride killed the ball on his hurley and raced through to fire it to the back of the Shamrocks net. A score to grace any game.
Jack McCloskey pulled one back for Loughgiel with a great strike from out in the right wing, but Daniel Kearney came back with two pointed frees for the Oisins to give them a 3-4 to 0-2 lead at half time.
The first question in most peoples’ minds as the game restarted after the break was how much influence the strong breeze had on Glenariffe’s first half dominance, but they soon showed it was not the main factor as they got the first score of the second half, a goal from corner forward Orrin O’Connor three minutes in to stretch their lead to fourteen. To their credit Loughgiel came back strongly and three pointed frees from midfielder Conor Dickson, plus a great point from centre half back Ruairi McCormick got them back into contention. However they could not get through for the goal that would have changed the dynamic of the game, thanks largely to a great defensive display by the Oisins defence and full back Odhran Gillan in particular. By this stage the home team had weathered the storm and were back in control as they ended with two more points from Daniel Kearney and Orrin O’Connor to end up winners by four clear goals.
OISINS
Phelim Ward, Niall Magee, Odhran Gillan, Cadhan Graham, Matthew Black, Mark McSparran, Cailin Devlin, Patrick McIlwaine, Aidan McSparran, Niall McGarel, Daniel Kearney, Brogan O’Connor, Orrin O’Connor, John V Morgan, Eamon Ward.
Subs used – Calum McIlwaine, Peadar McDonnell, Ronan Leech, John Black, Cathair McNaughton, John Fyfe
LOUGHGIEL
Mark Christie, Charlie O’Hagan, Ronan McLaughlin, Cahir Connolly, Finn Henry, Ruairi McCormick, Tiaga McGarry, Conin Sheridan, Connor Dickson, Eoin McGarry, Ronan McCollum, Ben McGarry, Jack McCloskey, Odhran Reid, Jack McKendry.
Subs used – Diarmuid Casey, Ronan Casey, Danny McAuley, Darragh Patterson, Pearce Patterson.
Referee – Paul McSparran (Cushendun)