St Anthony’s Primary School won the Larne Schools Hurling Cup for the 4th time in 7 years. St Anthony’s Primary School who arguably came into the tournament as underdogs came through the groupstage unbeaten, winning their first game against St MacNissis’ and drawing all the rest. The final game of the league section was between St MacNissis and Corran Integrated with as place in the final up for grabs. The Corran only needed a draw to guarantee a final spot but St MacNissis had other ideas and put in the most impressive performance the day winning the pivotal league game 4-0.
The games in the group stage were tight affairs with teams reluctant to give much away and the final was no different. It was a nervous game with the St MacNissis keeper the man of the match. At the full time whistle team coaches Ciaran McKillion and Anthony McNeill had to make changes with the teams being reduced from 6 a side to 5 a side for the two minutes of extra time. The 2019 champions scored early in extra time and were able to hold on to take the Larne Schools Hurling Cup back to Antiville for the third year in a row. With team coach Anthony McNeill winning the competition for the second time, the first time was as a player at the first ever Larne Schools Hurling Cup in 2014.
The Larne Schools Hurling Cup continues to go from strength to strength with more volunteers and coaches getting involved and is now a well established competition giving children from schools in Larne the opportunity to play meaningful and competitive games of hurling
