Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Round
Glenariffe 3-21 Lamh Dhearg 0-1
Oisin’s Glenariffe had little difficulty in sweeping aside the challenge of division 3 strugglers, Lamh Dhearg in the Intermediate Hurling Championship at Clooney today. Led by the excellent Alex O’Boyle who set the seas-siders on their way with two points in the opening minutes, the Waterfoot men had this one well and truly put to bed by half time when they led by 2-11 to 0-1.
Despite enjoying the advantage of a slight breeze for the second half the Hannastown side never really threatened Seanan McToal’s goal and indeed failed to score during the second period. Indeed had it not been for the reflexes and bravery of their keeper, Paddy Joe Herron this defeat would have been even greater, the Lamh Dhearg keeper pulling off four excellent saves over the hour to deny a rampant Glenariffe attack.
Oisins went on the offensive right from the throw in and after Alex O’Boyle pointed a second minute free and added another from play Lamh Dhearg responded with a point from John Boyd to close the gap to one after seven minutes.
The Hannastown side flattered to deceive however and indeed Boyd’s point was to be their only score of the game as the North Antrim side laid siege on their goal and the scores began to flow. Tom Quinn, O’Boyle from two frees and left-back, Niall Murray from 50 meters had them five in front by the 19th minute as the Lamh Dhearg defence battled in vain to turn the tide.
O’Boyle was simply unmarkable as he added a point in the 17th minute before his side received a setback when Aaron Cosgrove was forced out of the contest with a shoulder injury to be replaced by Paul McDonnell.
It failed to disrupt the rhythm of the Glenariffe side as the one way traffic towards he Lamh Dhearg goal continued and Dan McKillop added a point before Alex O’Boyle fired home a 24th minute penalty after being hauled down himself as he bore down on goal.
A minute later Herron in the Lamh Dhearg goal came off his line to pull off a brave blocking save and deny the same player with Conor Patterson pointing the resulting ‘65’ and Dan McKillop followed with another from play as the constant pressure continued.
O’Boyle followed with a second goal after Paul McDonnell was denied by the bravery of keeper Herron and as the teams headed to the dressing room it looked as good as over with the Glen’s men carrying a very healthy looking 16 point lead.
It wasn’t to get any better for the Hannahstown men on the restart as Seamus McDonnell replaced Ciaran Farrell at the start of the second half and Alex O’Boyle looked certain to complete his hat-trick but was denied by Patrick Herron who came off his line to collide with the inrushing forward at the expense of a ‘65’.
It wasn’t long though before the excellent O’Boyle got in for his third goal, again racing clear before suffering a similar fate at the hands of Herron but this time the sliotar ended in the net with the Lamh Dhearg keeper shown yellow for his challenge.
Dan McKillop took over the scoring duties as Tomas Quinn split the uprights and McKillop followed with a trio of points to move the North Antrim men out of site at the end of the third quarter, 3-16 to 0-1.
McKillop, Seamus McDonnell and McKillop again added further points and as the one way traffic continued Haughey raced through for a fourth goal but his score was ruled out for over carrying but it proved only a minor blip on an otherwise complete performance and Dan McKillop and Seamus McDonnell added late points to conclude the scoring.
Oisins now go forward to meet St. Gall’s next weekend and are sure to face a much stiffer test from a Milltown side that has put an impressive run of results together to climb to the top of division 2 after an indifferent start to this year’s campaign. That run continued today when they out gunned Gort na Mona in their championship meeting at Corrigan Park.
Glenariffe Oisin: S McToal, N Murray (0-01), R McDonnell, M Haughey, S O’Connor, C Patterson, K McKendry, D Haughey (0-01, 65’), P Burns, C Farrel, M Nulty, D McKillop (0-08), A Cosgrove, T Quinn (0-02), A O’Boyle (3-05, 1-03f). Subs: P McDonnell for A Cosgrove (23 mins), S McDonnell (0-03) for C Farrel (31 mins),A McDonnell for A O’Boyle (37 mins), C Farrel for T Quinn (42 mins), P McMullan for S McToal (43 mins).
Lámh Dhearg: PJ Herron, R Fegan, M McGuigan, E Herron, C Herron, A McGuigan, SP Gibson, J Trainor, M Finnegan, M McGarry, C Kelly, J Boyd (0-01), D Fox, A McGreevy, S Byrne. Subs: S Butning for A McGuigan (42 mins), K Herron for S Byrne (57 mins).
Referee: Michael Hardy (Rasharkin)
