Junior B Hurling final
Latharna Og Larne v All Saints Ballymena
Friday Ahoghill 7-30
Friday night’s Junior B Hurling final in Ahoghill brings together a novel pairing when Latharna Og, Larne hope to snatch the title from holders, All Saints Ballymena. The Ballymena side made their return to ACHL action last season after a number of years and marked their return with a win over St. Agnes in the Junior B final.
This year Latharna Og returned to league action after a few year’s absence and have aquited themselves extremely well in their first year back in division 4 including a win over All Saints in the league at Slemish Park on the 23d of June.
The Larne men came off the pace with a storming finish to pip Friday nights opponent in that game by the minimum, avenging a defeat in the corresponding fixture back on the 23d April. Ten points separated the sides that day at Brustin Braes so the seasiders would appear to have closed the gap on Friday’s opponents.
Both sides hit massive scores in their respective semi-finals.
Latharna Og booked their place in the final when they recorded an emphatic 7-17 to 2-12 win over Loch Mór Dál gCais in last Friday evening’s semi-final at Feystown, Glenarm. The Larne men, who were making a welcome return to the competition after a four year absence, made a bad start to both halves, conceding early goals in both, but once they got going there was no stopping them and with a big support cheering them on they ran up a massive score.
Full-forward, Anthony O’Neill led the way with three goals and Conor Matthews, Michael Lismore, Brian Quinn and Thomas Carson all scored majors and the All Saints defence will have to keep an eye on O’Neill in particular with full-back Chris McAffee likely to be assigned to that task.
All Saints were in fine scoring form themselves as they out gunned Davitt’s at Whitehill with Ciaran Neeson leading the way with a personal total of 5-5 and proving virtually unmarkable as they ran out 6-14 0-13 winners on the night.
Substitute Francis Casey got the other All Saints goal and there were strong performances from Chris McAffee, Colum Neeson, Vincent Esler, Gary Miskella and Damian Gillan but this was very much a team performance.
All Saints were without the services of Liam Cassley and Brian Butler for that one but both are likely to be available for selection on Friday night leaving mangers Darren McGinty and Enda Casey with a selection headache but one they will relish.
As well as the afore mentioned goal scorers Latharna Og have a wealth of experience in Barry Petticrew, Ryan O’Donnell, Niall McGoldrick, Philip McKendry and Seamus McNeill and with a big support following them this year they will certainly be looking forward to Friday night’s final.
A Junior B Final wouldn’t normally attract a big crowd but the fact that this one has been given a slot of its own on Friday night should attract a good crowd to Cloney and we could be in for a good final with Creggan’s Paul O’Neill the man in charge of keeping order.
Last year’s winners All Saints should start as slight favourites but this one could go either way and if the Larne men can tighten up at the back they are quite capable of taking the title.
LATHARNA OG v LOCK MOR DAL gCAIS: Chris Keenan, Thomas Carson, Barry Petticrew, Conor Barkley, Darren Martin, Ryan O’Donnell, Niall McGoldrick, Caolan Shields, Philip McKendry, Seamus McNeill, Brian Quinn, Philip Craig, Michael Lismore, Anthony O’Neill, Conor Matthews.
Subs – Daniel Heggarty for Matthews (blood sub), Ciaran McKillion for McNeill.
ALL SAINTS V DAVITTS: Daire Hasson, PJ O’Kane, Chris McAffee, Terry Diamond, Sean O’Rawe, Colum Neeson, Brendan McDonnell, Vincent Esler, Luke O’Rawe, Cormac Magill, Gary Miskella, Padraig Magill, Ciaran Cassley, Ciaran Neeson, Damian Gillan. Subs: Francis Casey, Anthony Mitchell, Barry Dorrity.