Under 20 Hurling League
Loughgiel 2-22 Ballycastle 2-13
Loughgiel came back from five points down at the the first water break to beat Ballycastle by nine in Saturday afternoon Under 20 League game at Fr Healy Park. Ballycastle had started really well and with the breeze at their back they went six points clear after seven minutes, the goal coming from Declan McCooke and the points from Seamus McAuley (2) and Jack Egan.
Shane O’Boyle got Loughgiel on the scoreboard in the ninth minute, and though Jack Egan put Ballycastle six ahead again a minute later, two pointed free from top scorer Rian Bubbles McMullan. The home side were much in the game at this stage but Ballycastle came back with another point just before the first half water break to give them a five point cushion. (0-3 to 1-5)
Things changed after the restart when Loughgiel full forward Odhan McGrath got a goal and a point in quick succession to leave just a point between the sides, and though Fergal McKiernan replied for visitors to puts two between them again, Rian McMullan turned the game on his head with six points in a row, three from frees and two from play to put his team two ahead at half time (1-10 to 1-08)
Ballycastle drew level early in the second half as Seamus McAuley and Caolan O’Connor sent over points and it was all square again when McMullan and McAuley exchanged points. Loughgiel started their run for home in the 42nd minute and with Rian McMullan at the heart of every move, the scores came thick and fast.
The corner forward his six more points, full forward Odhran McGrath grabbed a goal and a point while Cathal Hargan also chipped in with one. But it was McMullan’s class that shone through during this spell, and two of points he scored were right out of the top drawer.
Ballycastle kept battling however and they got some consolation when substitute Joe McToal grabbed a late consolation goal with a fines strike off the left side when flew into the Loughgiel net.
Loughgiel
Kevin McAuley, Conor Henry, Ruairi McCloskey, Conal McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Declan McCloskey, Tiernan McAlonan, Shane O’Boyle, Cathal Hargan, Ryan Hill, Michael McGarry, Damian Quinn, Rian McMullan, Odhran McGrath, Frank Boyle.
Ballycastle
Christai McAuley, Jack McGowan, Sean Brogan, Patrick McAllister, Eoin Boylan, Ronan Laverty, Mark McClean, Rueben McClean, Eoin Magee, Feargal McKiernan, Caolan O’Connor, Seamus McAuley, Tiernan Smyth, Declan McCook, Jack Egan
Referee – Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)