Antrim Junior B Hurling Championship quarter-final
Davitt’s 2-13 St Agnes’ 4-5
Davitt’s withstood a second half comeback by St Agnes’ in Monday evening’s quarter final at St Teresa’s to book a place in the Junior B Hurling semi-final in four weeks’ time. They were five up at half time and had appeared to be comfortable when they stretched their lead to seven during the second half but the Aggies were able to stay in touch by grabbing goals and twice got it back to just two, and even had the chance to snatch it with a Kevin Grieve injury time free.
However Davitt’s were deserving winners and had they have shown a bit more accuracy then they would have had the game wrapped up much earlier and they will need to sharpen up in that department before facing holders All Saints in next month’s semi-final.
The Aggies started well and were a point up inside a minute as Ronan Carroll pointed them ahead from a 65. Christopher Gallagher brought Davitt’s level but St Agnes’ edged back in front with a Carroll point from a free. A point from full forward Gearoid Cosgrove tied things up again and they edged in front when a Canice Mooney and Ciaran Rice tacked on points. Kevin Grieve pulled one back for St Agnes’ but Davitt’s struck a major blow when Cosgrove reacted quickest when Stephen McGivern’s shot came back off the upright and he drilled it home to give his side a four point cushion by the end of the opening quarter.
St Agnes’ got back into contention when a shot for a point by Stephen McIhatton deceived the Davitt’s goalkeeper and ended up in the back of the net, and though Mooney pulled a point back a minute later Grieve came back with a pointed free for the Aggies to keep them on their opponents coat tails. However Davitt’s were to finish the half strongly and after Ciaran Rice grabbed a goal Cosgrove added a point to give his side a five point cushion at half time.
Stephen McGivern stretched the Davitt’s lead to seven when he hit the first two points of the second half but Kevin Grieve cut the gap to six when he fired over after his initial goal attempt from a 20 meter free had been parried by the Davitt’s defence. It was game on once more when Grieve took full advantage of fumble by the Aggies goalkeeper to stab the ball home and leave just three between the sides but McGivern eased the pressure when he pointed to put the men from the Whiterock four clear and despite shooting a series of bad wides they went five head by the end of the third quarter, McGivern again the man on target.
If the Davitt’s fans were expecting an easy run in this stage they were mistaken and Aggies hit back to close the gap to two again when Kevin Grieve pulled a grounds shot to the net. Two points from McGivern eased the pressure yet again and when Rory McEvoy added another all seemed secure.
It was not to be as the Aggies battled back into contention again with a goal from Cormac Flannery to cut the gap back to two in injury time, and when St Agnes’ were awarded a 20 metre free with just seconds remaining it was hearts in the mouth time for the Davitt’s supporters. Grieve stepped up the mark but though his shot was well struck by the full forward Davitt’s midfielder Christopher Gallagher proved to be the hero when he got his hurl to it on the line to secure a semi-final spot for his team against All Saints.
DAVITT’S: J McCaffrey; P Maguire, T Toland, L McHugh; R McIlroy, T Maguire, N Maginn; M Rowntree, C Gallagher 0-1; C Mooney 0-2, S McGivern 0-6 (0-1f), C McKee; C Rice 1-1, G Cosgrove 1-2, R McEvoy 0-1.
Subs: C Maguire for Rice (52mins), E Gallagher for McIlroy (54mins).
ST AGNES’: C Fay; C Catney, M Carlin, D McConnell, B Carlin; A McQuillan, N Gillespie; R Carroll 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 65), C Flannery 1-0; Stephen McIlhatton, S Corey, J Halleron; Sean McIlhatton 1-0, K Grieve 2-3 (0-1f), B Mohan.
Sub: B McLarnon for Gillespie (49mins).
REFEREE: D McKeown (St Gall’s).
