Casement SC JHC Group 1
Latharna Og 0-9 Shane O’Neill’s 3-23
Pics by Brian Quinn
Reoprt by Pete Hyndman
Ciaran Magill was the star of the show, with a personal tally of 1:09 as Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm claimed the bragging rights in this keenly awaited derby against Latharna Og at Brustin Braes today. The young player was in great scoring form and instrumental in helping his team collect 2 valuable points in this round 2 championship game.
Two teams playing in different All County Leagues, Larne second from top in Div. 4 and Glenarm second from bottom in Div. 3 (granted each team has only played one game each) and in Championship form Larne had one win against Davitts, and Glenarm a loss against St. Pauls. Some may have had the home side as slight favourites on paper, but they never really looked like troubling the Feystown side.
Larne were still riding on a crest of a wave after their excellent win last year winning the Junior “B”, and with home advantage were hoping for another home win.
For the visitors a possible banana skin that might have ended their championship hopes, but the Feystown boys ripped up the form book and ran riot.
An early skiff of rain before throw in fell on the immaculate Brustin Braes pitch(well done to field committee) but this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of a sizeable crowd who were entertained to a great game played by two old neighbours who incredibly to my knowledge have never played each other competitively in championship hurling.
On the stroke of 2pm referee Darren McKeown threw the sliotar in and within 20 seconds Ciaran Magill drove over an early score, followed by a Kevin O Boyle point.
A Sean O Hare free was converted with Magill getting his second of the game giving the away team an early 4 point lead.
Cathal Mc Killop stopped the early blip when he pointed for the home side from a 50 yard free on 6 minute’s but in a two minute period Magill and O Hare added to the Glenarm score with a point each, Sean’s another placed ball effort.
Free taker for Latharna Og, Cathal Mc Killop pointed another free for the town team.
Again young Ciaran Magill twisted and turned and skillfully fired the ball over the Larne crossbar.
Just before the first half water-break, Liam “Dumper” Mc Loughlin charged down a tackle and found wee Kevin O Boyle in space who couldn’t miss and raised a green flag, leaving the scores 1-07 to 0-2 for the visitors.
Kele Mc Auley scored a “65” for the yellow and blues but Glenarm responded with a hat-trick of points from Ciaran Mulvenna, an O’Hare (“65”) and the latter off the stick of Magill.
An injury to Glenarm’s Ciaran Mulvenna resulted in Conal Ward replacing him as Larne’s Kele Mc Auley scored his second free of the afternoon, but again this was cancelled out with Paddy “Crow” Mc Auley shifting a heavy tackle and feeding young Ciaran Black who obliged by driving the ball over the bar. Shortly afterwards the referee called for half time.
Latharna Og 0:04 Shane Uí Neill’s 1:11
After the short whistle play resumed with Glenarm’s Sean O Boyle working in his corner forward berth carving an opening and slotting over Keenan’s bar.
Cathal Mc Killop bagged two free’s for the |Brustin ||Braes side as Glenarm took their foot off the pedal but Sean O Hare stopped the rot with another well hit free from 50 yards. Shane Uí Neill’s Hugh Pat McNeill, back after a 3 year abscence due to work, was working well in the blue’s rear-guard and collected a low ball before looking up finding a charging Darren Hamill who rounded his marker and split the uprights for a lovely score.
It was a day for the free-taker’s as O’Hare slotted over another Glenarm point, closely followed by Mc Killop for Larne getting a brace of score’s.
In a six minute period Glenarm raised their game after a short second half lull and converted 1:04 without reply. Sean O Boyle and a Ciaran Magill hat trick of points all but finished off Latharna Og before a slick 4-man move resulted in Conal Ward cracking the back into the onion bag, to the delight of the Glenarm fans on the hill.
O Hare then played a cute one-two pass with star player Magill again piercing the afternoon sky with a pinpoint accurate effort over Larne’s bar.
Michael Lismore responded with a point for Latharna Og, their first from play on the 53rd minute.
Kevin O’Boyle working in the corner for Glenarm found an opening for himself on 55 minute’s and pointed and recently introduced sub for the light blue’s Ben O Boyle won a daisy cutter ball and drilled over another Shane Uí Neills point. Nearing the fulltime whistle O Hare landed another mighty “65” and from the poc out the hungry Ciaran Magill rode a couple of hefty tackle’s and sent a rasper beyond Chris Keenan again pleasing the travelling support. The wee forward punched the air with delight!! Another effort over the bar from Ben O Boyle concluded the game with Glenarm storming away with victory.
A wake up call for Latharna Og today after their recent successful results, to their credit they tried hard but couldn’t match Shane O Neill’s for their intensity, especially in defence and a fast flowing forward line. Best for the home side where Kele Mc Auley, Cathal Mc Killop and Darren Martin.
Glenarm took to the Brustin Brae pitch today without two of their star players, Dan Black and Dylan McLaughlin both injured. The Hamill brothers carried injuries into today’s game but still lined out to help their team win.
Liam Mulvenna was called upon once in the 55th minute to deal with a a rare threat from Latharna Og but his poc outs where long and accurate. Aidso Mc Neill, Barry Hamill and Liam Dumper Mc Loughlin and Hugh Pat McNeill were solid in defence.
Decky Mc Dermott and Paddy Crow dominated the midfield and fed the forwards with a good supply of ball while Kevin and Sean O Boyle and Sean O’Hare were always dangerous in attack. Darren Hamill, by his own standards only pointed once today, but was a constant thorn in Latharna Og’s defence.
Stand out player today and worthy of Man of the Match was Ciaran Magill who scored 1 :09 and was always on the lookout for the loose ball, and was a constant threat throughout.
Latharna Chris Keenan, Ciaran Martin, Barry Petticrew, Mark Petticrew, Ryan O Donnell, Kele Mc Auley (:02frees),Darren Martin, Caolan Shields, Phil Mc Kendry, Michael Lismore, Ciaran Mulvenna, Cathal Mc Killop ( :06 Frees) Conor O Boyle, Conor Matthews, Anthony O Neill. Subs: Jack Mc Allister,Thomas Carson, Dan Heggarty, Cormac Glenn, Gary Bergin, Chris Rolson, Blain Stewart, Eoin Walsh, Caolan Hay, Brian Rogan.
Shane Uí Neill’s: Liam Mulvenna, Aidan O Neill, Barry Hamill, Paul Magill, Liam Mc Loughlin, Hugh P Mc Neill, Decky Mc Dermott, Paddy Mc Auley, Ciaran Black (:01) Ciaran Magill (1:09)Ciaran Mulvenna (:01)Kevin O Boyle (1:02)Sean O Boyle (:02)Darren Hamill (:01)Sean O Hare (:06, 4f’s , 2 “65”) Subs. Conal Ward(1:00),Ben O Boyle (:02) Ciaran O Boyle, Dan O Boyle, Rory Mulvenna, Jay Rowan, Ruairi Mellon, Daniel Black.
Referee Darren Mc Keown (St. Gall’s)
