McAuley Cup – Senior Hurling

Loughgiel 4-28 Kevin Lynch’s 2-17

Loughgiel won back the McAuley Cup at Armoy when they beat Kevin Lynch’s Dungiven by seventeen points in Wednesday evening’s final in a high scoring affair. The first half was highly competitive with the game swinging one way, then the other, but a red card for Lynch’s full forward, seven minutes before the break, spoiled the game as a contest and the numerical advantage really told for the Shamrocks in the second half. The sides were level at the time of the dismissal for an off the ball incident and Loughgiel took advantage right away as they pushed four ahead by half time. In the second half the Shamrocks really got on top and three goals in a two minute spell, midway through the half, all but sealed the win.

However the Dungiven men, who started short five regulars, had shown enough to suggest they are a match for any team on the day and they can look forward to the Derry semi-final in confident mood. Loughgiel will be glad to have another warm up game under their belt and the win will do their confidence no harm as they look forward to a semi-final place in the Antrim championship in three weeks’ time.  

Kevin Lynch’s started brightly when the excellent Corey O’Reilly opened the scoring with a pointed free, but Loughgiel hit back with three on the trot through Donal McKinley and Liam Watson (2) to lead by two in the third minute. Kevin Lynch’s hit back strongly with a goal from corner forward Odhran McKeever and a Corey O’Reilly point but Loughgiel appeared to have gained the upper hand as they hit six points in a three minute spell with James McNaughton claiming two of them, while Watson, Declan Gillan, Eddie McCloskey and Duck McFadden got one apiece.

Things looked good for the Shamrocks at this stage but they were knocked back on their heels when harmless looking shot from Dungiven right-half-forward O’Reilly deceived Chrissy O’Connell in the Loughgiel goals and ended up nestling in the back of the net.

When Ferris added a point Kevin Lynch’s were back in front and it was score for score for a ten minute spell until the sending off, after which Loughgiel hit four without reply to lead by 0-15 to 2-5 at half time.

McNAUGHTON GOAL

A James McNaughton goal within seconds of the restart set up Loughgiel for the second half and though Dungiven matched the Shamrocks score for score for a good while after that they could not get the gap back to less than six. The game really got away from them in a three minute spell between the 45^th and 48^th minutes when Loughgiel grabbed three goals. Liam Watson got the firs of them when he got his hurl to long delivery from midfield to deflect it to the Lynch’s net and less than a minute later James McNaughton added a point. Thomas Brady came back with a point for Kevin Lynch’s but Watson grabbed his second a minute later and Shan McGrath added another within thirst second.

The Derry men kept battling to the end it has to be said with Corey O’Reilly, Niall Ferris and Odhran McKeever hitting some fine scores, but Loughgiel always had a reply and a flurry of five on the trot in the last three minutes left them seventeen clear at the end.

LOUGHGIEL: Chrissy O’Connell,  Declan McCloskey, Tony McCloskey, Odhran McFadden, Declan Gillan, Barney McAuley, Seamus Dobbin, Donal McKinley, Mark McFadden, Calum McKendry, Declan Laverty, Eddie McCloskey, James McNaughton, Laim Watson, Shay Casey.

Subs – Shan McGrath, Dan McCloskey, Ryan McKee

KEVIN LYNCH’S: Brian Lagan, Niall Smyth, Conor Kelly, Donal Kelly, John Mullan, Richie Mullan, Jack Mullan, Thomas Brady, Kieran Mackle, Corey O’Reilly, Niall Ferris, Sean Kelly, Padraig O’Kane, Shea McKeever, Odhran McKeever.

Refereee – Mark O’Neill (Glen Rovers, Armoy)

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