Casement Social Club Junior Hurling Group 2
Con Magee’s 1-18-0-08 Lámh Dhearg
From Kevin Herron at Páirc an Athar Mhic Fhinn
Con Magee’s secured top spot in Group 2 of the Casement Social Club Antrim Junior Hurling Championship after a 1-18-0-08 victory over Lámh Dhearg at Páirc an Athar Mhic Fhinn this afternoon.
The hosts were in the ascendancy for the majority of proceedings with Sean McKay’s early goal the difference until the final quarter of the game – this despite visitors Lámh Dhearg being two-men light due to red cards picked up by Paddy Mervyn and Darren O’Brien before a tussle off the ball saw Ryan Straney and Conleth O’Loan walk the line as well.
The Hannahstown side were dogged and determined but in the last quarter the hosts made the most their numerical advantage to make it back to back wins and secure top-spot in the Group.
Lámh Dhearg made the early running’s from throw-in but were caught cold in defence and Con Magee’s hit the net inside of three-minutes on their home turf.
Conleth O’Loan did enough to put pressure on Paddy-Joe Herron’s clearance in the Lámh Dhearg goal and the ball fell kindly to Sean McKay who rifled into the roof of the empty net.
Aidan McGuigan responded through a converted free and sixty-seconds later Jack Trainor dipped the ball up and popped over a second to further close the deficit.
There was a bit of edge to the game and no quarters were given, but referee Ciaran McCloskey was forced to take action for an off the ball incident that saw Paddy Mervyn depart proceedings inside the first quarter of an hour.
Lámh Dhearg regrouped and were back on terms by the 24th minute with Aidan McGuigan landing his second free of the half.
Respective frees were traded between Niall Donnelly and McGuigan before Con Magee’s ended the half with three unanswered points, Donnelly conjured a magnificent point from play and back to back frees from Conleth O’Loan ensured the hosts led 1-04-0-04 at the midway point.
Con Magee’s increased their lead upon the resumption with O’Loan converting a further free.
The hosts numerical advantage increased a few minutes later as Darren O’Brien departed after referee McCloskey was summoned by his umpire.
Both sides lost a player approaching the midway point in the second period as Ryan Straney and Conleth O’Loan were cited for an off the ball clash.
Although Lámh Dhearg were reduced to 12-plasyers they remained in contention as first-half substitute John Boyd angled a point to ensure that a goal separated the sides at the second water-break.
Con Magee’s began to make the extra-men count in the final quarter of the game and chalked up nine-unanswered points.
Three of those scores belonged to attacking half-back James Duffin with Sean McKay popping over two points and Niall Donnelly accounting for the remaining four- three of which came from frees.
Aidan McGuigan eventually put an end to that scoring spree with his third converted free of proceedings.
Paddy-Joe Herron was then called into action to divert Charlie Henry’s dangerous shot over the bar rather than under it, with Stephen Atchenson floating a further score over in the aftermath.
John Boyd ended the game with two further points from the placed ball – in-between scores from McKay and Niall Donnelly (free) as Con Magee’s had 13-to spare at the conclusion, running out 1-18-0-08 winners to claim a quarter-final spot.
Lámh Dhearg take on St Teresa’s at Hannahstown next Sunday with the second vacant spot in the last eight up for grabs.
Con Magee’s: C McCann, C Mullan, M McDonnell, B O’Neill, S Atcheson (0-01), J Duffin (0-03), P O’Neill, O McAleenan, E McCusker, N Donnelly (0-07, 0-05f), S Woulahan, D Kerr, J Fyfe, C O’Loan (0-03f), S McKay (1-03). Subs: C Henry (0-01) for S Woulahan (42), C Scullion for J Fyfe (48), R Donnelly for D Kerr (53), S Burns for S Atcheson (55).
Lámh Dhearg: PJ Herron, M McGuigan, D O’Brien, R Fegan, N McGuigan, P Mervyn, R Diamond, SP Gibson, A McGuigan (0-04f), D Murray, R Straney, A Ferris, C Flynn, J Doone, J Trainor (0-01). Subs: J Boyd (0-03, 0-02f) for J Trainor (14), T McKenna for C Flynn (HT), J Brady for N McGuigan (51), D Fox for A McGuigan (55), S Byrne for A Ferris (57).
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgeil)
