Antrim Minor Hurling Championship final

Loughgiel 4-14 Ballycastle 1-11

Loughgiel bridged an eleven year gap at Pairc MacUílín on Sunday when they won their first minor title since 2008 with a 4-14 to 1-11 win over McQuillan’s Ballycastle. In a hard fought game that had a total of fifteen minutes injury time (7 in the first half and 8 in the second) the Shamrocks ability to grab goals at vital times was the main difference between the sides. Two quick goals midway through the first half, the first of them a sublime lob from corner forward Rian McMullan, put Loughgiel in the driving seat but Ballycastle fought back with four points on the trot to close the gap to just three entering injury time at the end of the first half. With wind advantage to come in the second period Ballycastle appeared to be well in the game but  they had a man sent off just before the break and in the time remaining they conceded their third goal, plus another two points, and suddenly they had a real mountain to climb.

A goal early in the second half gave Ballycastle renewed hope but Rian McMullan settled the nerves soon afterwards with another neat goal finish and from then on there was only one winner as the Shamrocks cruised home with a bit to spare.

Loughgiel started strongly and were three points to the good after six minutes through Ryan Hill, Michael McGarry and Rian McMullan, but Ballycastle began to settle and two pointed free by Seamus McAuley in the 8^th and 14^th minutes brought them back to within one by the end of the opening quarter. Michael McGarry pointed a free to put the Shamrocks two clear on 17 minutes and two minutes later McMullan grabbed the first goal of the game with a finish right out of the top drawer. Fearghal McKiernan responded with great point at the other end for the ‘Town’ but in the Shamrocks next attack Michael McGarry responded well to a fumble in the Ballycastle defence and batted the ball home from close range to put his team in command.

To their credit Ballycastle responded well and during the next ten minutes they added four points without reply through Tiernan Smyth (2), Joe McToal and Seamus McAuley left just three between the side four minutes into the seven allotted minutes of injury time. The remaining three minutes of injury time were to prove costly for Ballycastle as they had a man sent off and conceded 1-2, the goal coming from Odhran McGrath, as Loughgiel headed to the changing rooms back in command, leading by 3-6 to 0-7.

A superb point from the excellent Joe McToal just after the restart cut Ballycastle’s deficit to seven and when they grabbed a goal a minute later the gap was back to just four. However Loughgiel responded well and a pointed free by Michael McGarry was followed by a well taken goal from a narrow angle from Rian McMullan which all but ended the Ballycastle challenge. A well worked score was well finished off by McGarry midway through the second half before big Shane O’Boyle soloed through for another well taken point on the run. Ryan Hill added one from play and Michael McGarry added two more from frees and though Seamus McAuley knocked over two late consolation scores the destiny of the cup had long been decided.

LOUGHGIEL: Kevin McAuley, Conor Henry, Ruairi McCloskey, Christy Dickson, Enda Og McGarry, Declan McCloskey (capt), Tiernan McAlonan, Shane O’Boyle,  Cathal Hargan, Ryan Hill, Michael McGarry, Frank Boyle, Rian McMullan, Odhran McGrath, Christy McGarry.

Subs used – Conor McCormick, Conor O’Mullan, Conor McCormick and Damien Quinn

BALLYCASTLE: James Bakewell, Jack Colgan, Cormac Donnelly, Mark McClean, Jack McGowan, Sean Brogan, Ronan Laverty, Seamus McAuley, Reuben McClean, Eoin Maybin, Caolan O’Connor, Feargal McKiernan, Tiernan Smyth, Eoin Magee, Joe McToal.

Referee – Kevin Rice (Naomh Eanna)

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