Ballycastle’s Conor McBride breaks the challenge of St. John’s Joseph Ross during the U21 Hurling Championship at Slemish Park on Monday night.

U21 Hurling Championship semi-final

McQuillan’s Ballycastle 2-15 St. John’s 0-12

McQuillan’s produced a strong second half performance to outscore and out fight a determined St. John’s in this U21 Hurling Championship semi-final, played at Slemish Park, Ballymena on Monday night.

The game was evenly balanced at the half way stage with the ‘Castle’ taking a slender 0-6 to 0-5 lead to the dressing room but the opening half was more notable for the number of wides from both sides rather than the quality of play with the rain that fell prior to throw in making the surface slippery and difficult.

Early nerves also played a part as Conal Bohill for the ‘Johnnies’ and Conor McBride exchanged early points before Ryan Hill edged Ballycastle ahead again with a point in the 5^th minute.

Conor McBride, who with his corner-forward partner, Diarmaid McShane was to cause the St. John’s defence a lot of problems over the hour with their pace and movement, edged his side two ahead after 15 minutes, both sides having missed quite a number of chances at this point.

Points from an Aaron Bradley free and two more from Peter McCallin and Aidan McMahon saw the South Antrim side hit the front for the first time by the 20^th minute but Ballycastle responded through the elusive Diarmaid McShane who fired over two close range frees after being fouled himself.

Peter McCallin, who looked dangerous every time he gained possession levelled matters once more before Eamon Elliott rose to bat over a Diarmaid McShane shot that appeared to be sailing wide and leave his side leading by the minimum as Francis Traynor’s half-time whistle sounded.

If the opening half had been notable for its lack of scores then the same certainly couldn’t be said for the second as the action got under way and it was the boys from the Whiterock who made a blistering start as the action resumed.

Points from Shea Shannon, Peter McCallion and Aidan McMahon in the opening two minutes saw them move two in front and the North Antrim men looked a bit shell shocked at this opening blitz.

They rallied however with a point from Conor McBride and then Tiernan Butler fired home the game’s opening goal in the 6^th minute to give them back a lead they were never again to lose.

Shea Shannon and Dermot McShane exchanged points and another from McCallin in the 17^th minute closed the gap to the minimum again and it still looked anyone’s game at this stage but a wonderful long range point from Tiernan Butler seemed to lift the Ballycastle men and indeed their supporters.

Another excellent effort from McShane and an equally impressive one from Butler saw the North Antrim side go four in front with 22 minutes gone and their defence, superbly marshalled by Conor Boyd, were now dominating proceedings.

Dermot McShane for Ballycastle and Aaron Bradley for St. John’s exchanged points by the 26^th minute but it was to prove to be the ‘Johnnies’ last score as the McQuillan’s came with a strong finish to book a place in the final.

Tiernan Butler took a pass from McShane for another great point and corner man McShane added an equally impressive effort as the game edged into time added and then Ben McQuillan rose to field a long delivery from Tiernan Butler before turning and rifling to the net from close range.

Ballycastle will now meet favourites, Cuchullain’s Dunloy who defeated Loughgiel in the other semi-final in Armoy and if they can produce the level of performance that they did in the second half of this game then the result might not be the foregone conclusion that some are predicting.

The black &ambers were solid in defence, where Conor Boyd was a real rock and Ryan Hill and Tiernan Butler were strong and effective at mid-field. Their attack, like their defence worked tirelessly throughout with Diarmaid McShane and Conor McBride a real handful for the St. John’s defence.

Ballycastle: Brendan Connor, Eoin Hill, Ciaran McKeague, Oisin Donnelly, Conal Colgan, Conor Boyd, Oisin McAuley, Lorcan Donnelly, Ryan Hill, Ben McQuillan, Colm Butler, Eamon Elliott, Conor McBride, Tiernan Butler, Diarmaid McShane. Sub: Cormac Donnelly for Oisin Donnelly

St. John’s: Patrick Carlin, Oisin Donnelly, Sean Wilson, Joseph Ross Clifford, Odhran McKenna, Conor Carson, Lorcan Heenan, Shea Shannon, Aidan McMahon, Ciaran McKenna, Peter McCallin, Conal Bohill, Aaron Bradley, Eoin Connolly, Darragh McCallin, Subs: Dannan McKeogh, Eoin McParland

Referee: Francis Traynor (Loughgiel)