Antrim Junior Hurling Championship sem-final
Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm 3-15 Naomh Treasa 2-10
Glenarm secured their place in the final of the Antrim Junior Hurling Championhip for the second year in a row when they beat St Teresa’s in Friday night’s semi-final at Quinn Park, Ballymena.
When St Teresa’s fired in their second goal to grab a one-point lead, midway through the second half it looked like they Belfast men could be on their way to avenging their defeat at the hands of the same opposition last year, but the men in blue soon regained their composure and they had the better of the final quarter to seal a second final appearance in a row.
Glenarm made the better start and a point from a Daniel Black free plus two from play by Dylan McLaughlin had them three clear, before centre forward Phillip Maguire got the Belfast men on the scoreboard.
As both teams struggled with the unfamiliar conditions under lights they gave a way a series of frees which free-takers Daniel Black for Glenarm and Philly Maguire for St Teresa’s made good use of to keep their respective scoreboards ticking over.
Glenarm were holding a slender lead when Conor McCann grabbed the first goal of the game for St Teresa’s following hesitancy in the Glenarm full back line and when Phillip Maguire added two points from frees the West Belfast men were suddenly four ahead. Glenarm needed a response as the St Teresa’s momentum grew and they got it when Dylan McLaughlin grabbed a high ball on the edge of the St Teresa’s square before turning and blasting a low shot to the corner of the net. A Daniel Black point brought Glenarm back on terms and when the talented centre forward won possession from the puc-out and dispatched it back between the posts, they were back in front with half time fast approaching. The accurate Black put the Feystown men two clear but in first half injury time St Teresa’s got a great chance to grab a half time lead when they were awarded a penalty. Maguire was the man to take it and judging by the way he had been hitting his free during the first 30 minutes most spectators were expecting to see the net ripple. However the St Teresa’s man failed to connect properly with his shot and goalkeeper Liam Mulvenna was able to police the ball wide.
After an early exchange of points from Black and Maguire the second half really came alive when St Teresa’s substitute Jordan McAllister grabbed his team’s second goal but Glenarm hit back with a point from Conal Ward thirty seconds later, a fine finish on the run. Ward added another to edge his team in front but Colm McGoldrick restored parity with a well taken St Teresa’s point at the other end. Just who would advance to the final was far from clear as the game entered the home straight but Glenarm got a decisive break when a Daniel Black shot which appeared to be going over the bark deceived James Burns in the St Teresa’s goal and ended up in the back of the net, the keeper’s judgement no doubt impeded by the floodlights
Three clear now Glenarm held sway in the final minutes and after Maguire and Black had again exchanged points once again, Mark Petticrew put Glenarm four clear. The smart money was on the Feystown men at this stage and when corner forward Barry Hamill grabbed a brilliant goal from a narrow angle on the right there was no way back for St Teresa’s
ST TERESA’S
James Burns, Phillip Glennon, Gerard O’Rawe, Aodhan Dugan, Pierce O’Rawe, Paul McGoldrick, Ciaran Rouse, Sean Maguire, Colm McGoldrick (0-01), Christopher Turley, Phillip Maguire (c) (0-02, 0-07f), Conor McCann (1-00), Darran McCann, Kevin Burns, Brian Curran.
Substitutes: Jordan McAllister (1-00) and Conor O’Rawe
GLENARM
Liam Mulvenna, Martin Ward, Sean Moran, Ciaran Flannagan, Jake Hamilton, Darren Hamill (c), Rory Mulvenna, Patrick McAuley, Liam Mitchell, Conal Ward (0-02), Daniel Black (1-03, 0-07f), Dylan McLaughlin (1-02), Mark Petticrew (0-01), Christopher Matthews, Barry Hamill (1-00).
Referee: John Carson (Ruairí Óg Cushendall)
