Oisins 2-11 Ruairi Og 1-10
Glenariffe Oisins repeated their McMullan Cup final win over Cushendall when they met again in the final of the North Antrim Under 16 Shield at the Rigs in Cushendun on Monday evening. In their two previous meetings this season there has been little between these two sides and it was the same this time around as they fought out another tough battle. The Oisins were ahead by three at the break, but Cushendall drew level ten minutes into the second half. However the Glenariffe boys dominated the final twenty minutes holding their opponents to just one more point while they slotted over five to cap off what has been a great season.
A good start set the Oisins up well and a Nial McGarel goal, plus a Shea McDonnell point had them four clear after just two minutes. Fiontan McQuillan got Cushendall on the scoreboard and for the next 17 minutes it was score for score as Fiontan McQuillan answered scores from Glenariffe’s Matthew Black, Shea McDonnell (goal) and Dairie Mort. Two points from McDonnell in the 25th minute pushed Glenariffe six clear but on the cusp of half time Cushendall full forward Colm McKeegan grabbed a goal to leave his team just three behind at the short whistle.
A point from a Fiontan McQuillan 65 early in the second half left just two between the sides but one from centre back Odhran Gillan restored the three point cushion. Cushendall then came back strongly with three on the trot from Colum McKeegan, Fiontan McQuillan and Joshua Schnell to tie up the scores after 49 minutes and at this stage it appeared to be anybody’s game. However Cushendall were to raise just one more flag in the final twenty minutes of play while in a five minute spell of dominance between the 32nds and 37th minutes Glenariffe regained control of the game with two points apiece from their twin strike partnership of McGarrel and McDonnell. Cushendall pulled a point back through Killian McNaughton in the 50th minute to leave just a goal between the sides but the Oisins had the last say and another pointed free by Nial McGarrel left them four ahead at the end.
OISINS: John V Morgan, Cailin Devlin, Archie McSparran, Aidan McSparran, Ronan Rodgers, Odhran Gillan, Mark McSparran, Aidan Scullion, Dainel Kearney, Daire Mort, Ronan Leech, Patrick McIlwaine, Shea McDonnell, Nial McGarrel.
RUAIRI OG: Joseph McNaughton, Sean McKay, Mark Emerson, Frankie McCormick, Michael Quinn, Padraig McKillop, Killian McNaughton, Shane McKenna, Calum Kilgore, Conor McCollum, Fiontan McQuillan, Matthew McCann, Joshua Schnell, Colum McKeegan, Oisin McMullan.
