Casement Social Club Junior Hurling Championship
Shane O’Neill’s 3-19 Lamh Dhearg 1-10
Goals from Dylan McLaughlin in the 10th and 14th minute paved the way for a convincing victory for Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm over Lamh Dhearg in this Casement Social Club Junior Hurling championship game in Waterfoot today.
McLaughlin was deadly for the men from Feystown, finishing with 2-8 and provided his side with a target man and a scoring threat everytime he received the sliotar.
The game had been re-fixed earlier in the day when Creggan was deemed unfit to accommodate a double header following heavy overnight rain which continued this morning. However the Oisin’s pitch was in excellent condition even though the rain that fell heavily throughout different periods of the game made conditions difficult.
Lamh Dhearg started the game with a strong wind blowing towards the village end of the ground on their back and took the lead through a Michael McGuigan point in the opening minute. However it was the boys from Feystown who made the early running with Declan McDermott, Dylan McLaughlin and Daniel Black (0-2) replying with four points by the eighth minute and when the excellent Dylan McLaughlin followed with the game’s opening goal they looked in control.
McLaughlin was to prove a constant threat as he continued to win possession up front and he got in for his side’s second goal after 14 minutes to open up a nine point lead as Lamh Dhearg struggled to mount meaningful attacks.
McLaughlin extended the Shane O’Neill’s lead to ten with a point in the 20th minute as he, Darren Hamill and Ryan McLaughlin continued to find space while Daniel Black and Conal Ward gave them a strangle hold at mid-field.
Mark Finnegan momentarily relieved the pressure as he pointed a 22nd minute free but the North Antrim side responded from a Dylan McLaughlin free and the same player intercepted the resulting puck-out to return it over the bar with four minutes of the half remaining.
McLaughlin was key in nearly everything good Glenarm produced and he was involved in a clever interchange with Daniel Black before adding another point with Darren Hamill following suit from a close range free.
Lamh Dhearg were struggling to contain their opponents but gained momentary respite when Mark Finnegan pointed his second free of the half as the game went into time added on but a fine catch and an equally impressive turn and strike from Ryan McLaughlin saw the Feystown side head to the dressing room with a very healthy looking 2-10 to 0-3 lead.
Now facing into the elements, the Hannastown side could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel but that was never an option for the Lamh Dhearg men and they came out determined to make a better impression on proceedings with Mark Finnegan pointing after 30 seconds.
Glenarm replied with points from Conal Ward and Kevin O’Boyle but Lamh Dhearg came back again through Gerard Smith and the impressive Finnegan and they were fairing much better than they had in the opening half.
Glenarm hit back again through a Dylan McLaughlin free but Lamh Dhearg were gathering a bit of momentum and Gerard Smith and Sean Paul Gibson were on target to bring their second half total to 0-5 and the Hannastown side were enjoying their bit of success.
Gl;enarm were not about to let their healthy lead slip away however and hit the next three points through Darren Hamill, Daniel Black and Dylan McLaughlin by the end of the third quarter and normal service appeared to have been restored.
However Lamh Dhearg were not finished and when Cameron Flynn fired to the net and Mark Finnegan added a point in the 48th minutes their confidence was sky high and it needed a response from Shane O’Neill’s who looked to have lost their way.
And respond they did with Dylan McLaughlin sending over a 55th minute point before Darren Hamill followed with an excellent goal as normal service was restored. Hamill and McLaughlin added late points with Lamh Dhearg’s only response coming from a Cameron Flynn point and its Shane O’Neill’s who now go forward to the semi-final.
Shane O’Neill’s: Liam Mulvenna, Aidan O’Neill, Barry Hamill, Paul Magill, Declan McDermott, Jake Hamilton, Ben O’Boyle, Conal Ward, Daniel Black, Patrick McAuley, Darren Hamill, Ryan McLaughlin, Kevin O’Boyle, Sean O’Hare, Dylan McLaughlin Subs: Rory Mulvenna for Kieran O’Boyle, Ciaran Matthews for Aidan O’Neill, Dan O’Boyle for Ryan McLaughlin.
Lamh Dhearg: Michael O’Clarigh, Ronan Fegan, Mark Lynch, Sean Byrne, Joel Brady, Sean Paul Gibson, Aidan McGuigan, Mark Finnegan, Cathal Kelly, Michael McGarry, Cameron Flynn, Michael McGuigan, Aaron Ferris, Kevin Herron , Gavin Quinn. Subs Gerard Smith fo Kevin Herron, Conor McKenna for Gavin Quinn
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
