Junior-B Hurling semi-final
Ardoyne 1-14-3-11 Loch Mór Dal g Cais
Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly
Loch Mór Dal g Cais got the better of Ardoyne to claim a place in the Junior-B hurling final after a 3-11-1-14 victory at Dunsilly this evening.
It was the third meeting of the sides this season, Ardoyne winning the previous two including a league quarter-final meeting little under two-weeks ago and they were shading the semi-final clash until Ruairi Bannon struck either side of the break to move Loch Mór clear.
Caolan Wallace hit a goal almost instantly to cut the lead to just two- only for Murtagh Moran to find his sides third-which ultimately saw them to a shock-win at Dunsilly.
Loch Mór hit the opening score through Ruairi Bannon early on – but Daniel Moore swung over the leveller and team-mate Oisin McVicker converted a free to give his side a 0-02-0-01 lead.
Matthew Jones pointed to draw his side level, though Ardoyne were beginning to get into their stride and hit the next three points.
Daniel Moore angled over his second point, Paul McGuigan won back possession and picked off a score and Hugh Grieve converted a free to give his side a 0-05-0-02 lead.
Bailey Graham, who was in great form in goals for Loch Mor Dal gCais makes a timely clearance
Points from Ruairi Bannon and Darragh Turley (free) reduced the deficit to a single point, but Ardoyne hit back with back-to-back scores of their own.
A foul on Pascal Clarke led to Hugh Grieve converting his second free of the half and the lively Daniel Moore swung over his third point.
Darragh Turley and Paul Molloy closed the gap to single point again- Molloy’s score coming after outstanding work from midfielder Cormac Dwyer whose popped pass gave Molloy space and time to conjure the point from range.
Ardoyne looked to have extended their lead to two-point before the break with an outstanding point from Pearse Hull – but a Loch Mór goal in first half injury-time ensured that they edged in front.
A Murtagh Moran low drive was deflected, and the ball spun into the path of Ruairi Bannon who dispatched his shot past JP Agnew to give his side a 1-06-0-08 lead at the interval.
Loch Mór extended their lead through a Martin Braniff point upon the restart and a converted Darragh Turley free put the goal between the sides.
Oisin McVicker replied with his second free of the evening, however the North-Belfast side fell further behind on 40 minutes when Ruairi Bannon scrambled home his second to give his side a 2-08-0-09 lead and an upset was looking likely.
Daniel Moore sends over an Ardoyne point
Ardoyne needed a quick response and got it, Oisin McVicker landed a free and on 42 minutes David Saunders floated the ball to Caolan Wallace who drilled low to the net and made it a two-point game.
It was only a brief comeback though as Loch Mór gave themselves a bit of breathing space again.
Matthew Jones intercepted JP Agnew’s puck-out and swung the ball across the face of goal where Murtagh Moran was waiting to bat to the net and make it 3-08-1-10.
McVicker fizzed over a point in response, but three-points separated the sides at the second half water-break and Ardoyne needed to come back strong in the final quarter.
Murtagh Moran and Oisin McVicker (free) traded scores upon the resumption and Darragh Turley and Pearse Hull did likewise.
Ardoyne closed the deficit to two-points when Keelan McCallan off-loaded to Pascal Clarke who directed his shot between the posts.
On 56 minutes a massive chance went a begging for Ollie Bellew’s charges when David Saunders sent a low ball across the face of the Loch Mór goal and substitute Ryan Thompson was unable to steer it in.
The insurance score arrived for Loch Mór on the 60th minute with Paul Molloy swinging over his second point from range and thereafter his side saw out the final moments to claim a place in the Junior-B decider against All Saint’s Ballymena next weekend.
Loch Mor’s Ruairi Bannon (14) fires home hisa side’s second goal
Ardoyne: JP Agnew, S McGearty, P Baker, A Stewart, K McCallan, P Clarke (0-01), C McShane, P Hull (0-02), C Curran, D Moore (0-03), M McLaughlin, D Saunders, P McGuigan (0-01), O McVicker (0-05, 0-04f), H Grieve (0-02f). Subs: C Wallace (1-00) for C McShane (30), R Thompson for C Curran (39), S Searle for P McGuigan (59).
Loch Mór Dal g Cais: B Graham, A Monaghan, M Morgan, O O’Boyle, G Pickering jnr, C Jones, P Molloy (0-02), M Braniff (0-01), C Dwyer, L Rooney, DM McCullagh, M Jones (0-01), D Turley (0-04, 0-02f), R Bannon (2-02), M Moran (1-01). Subs: D McAreavey for O O’Boyle (16), E Fallon for G Pickering jnr (56).
Referee: Lorenzo McMullan (Bredagh)
