St Paul’s hit back to snatch victory

U20B Hurling final

St Paul’s 5-16 Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm 4-15

A late surge by St Paul’s saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as they got the better of Glenarm in a really entertaining Under 20 B Hurling final at Dunsilly on Saturday.

With five minutes of normal time remaining Glenarm, who had trailed by five points early in the second half, appeared to have turned the game around, and were six points to the good. However St Paul’s whose captain Caolan Crossan was in fantastic form, had another kick in them and two late goals plus a couple of Crossan points saw them over the line.

**Caolan Crossan breaks clear to set up a St Paul’s score late in the game.**

Glenarm got off to a flying start and their brilliant corner forward Niall McGarel fired in a goal in the second minute. St Paul’s came back with three pointed frees from Caolan Crossan, and though McGarel briefly restored Glenarm’s lead, man of the match Crossan came back with two more points from frees and a well taken goal from play to give his team a 1-5 to 1-2 lead at the first water break.

The second quarter was evenly contested with some great scores from Carson for St Paul’s and McGarel for Glenarm, but the vital score came just two minutes from half time when St Paul’s corner forward Lorcan Phillips got in for his team’s second goal to help his side to a 2-9 to 1-7 lead at the break.

When St Paul’s stretched that lead to four early in the second half it looked as if they were taking control but Glenarm battled back and in a spell of dominance they scored 2-5 to just a single point in reply from St Paul’s, the goals coming from full forward Caolan Morgan and corner forward Kevin O’Boyle.

With time ticking away the cup appeared to be heading to Glenarm, but they missed a couple of vital frees which kept St Paul’s in touch, and man of the match Carson got them back into contention with a couple of excellent points.

**Glenarm’s Ciaran Magill catches a high ball early in the game**

A shot from out on the sideline by St Paul’s Caolan Duffin deceived the Glenram goalkeeper and dipped below the crossbar and suddenly the gap was down to a single point. Niall McGarel replied with a point for Glenarm to stretch their lead to two but Carson broke through the Glenarm defence and fired in his team’s fourth goal to put his side a point clear.

Anthony Gallagher pointed for the Shaw’s Road side to put two between the sides, and though McGarel pulled one back for Glenarm, St Paul’s finished strong and a late goal from Lorcan Phillips sealed the win.

St Paul’s

Daire Stevenson, Tiernan Auld, Aaron Carey, Thomas Duff, Gary McGroarty, Anthony Gallagher, Liam Walsh, Marcus Munce, Niall Martin, Caolan Crossan, Michael Walsh, Caolan Duffin, Lorcan Phillips, Ruairi Hamill, Paul Og Donnelly

Glenarm

Conor O’Mullan, Odhran O’Dálaigh, Jay O’Ruin, Kieran O’Boyle, Michael McGarel, Aidan Scullion, Liam McLaughlin, Ronan McCrory, Sean O’Boyle, Kieran O’Boyle, Ciaran Magill, Ciaran Black, Niall McGarel, Caolan Morgan, Kevin O’Boyle.

Referee – Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)