Glenravel 5-18  Na Magha 2-16

Welcome points for Con Magees

Glenravel earned two valuable league points against Derry side Na Magha in a high scoring, entertaining game of hurling in Fr Maginn Park on Wednesday evening. Both sides displayed high levels of hurling skill belying their lowly position in Division 3, a position that no doubt drove both teams on in the pursuit of victory and precious league points. Indeed very little separated the teams throughout the hour with the home side finishing strongly in the final five minutes to open up a significant gap in the end.

Glenravel opened with a couple of points from Niall Donnelly and James Duffin before Na Magha’s impressive Padhraig Nelis got their first point. Glenravel’s Connor Deery, who had an excellent game in the middle of the park pushed Glenravel ahead but Nelis replied in kind to leave the minimum between them again. With eight minutes on the clock the game’s opening goal came when Glenravel’s Declan Traynor rounded his man and soloed towards goal at great speed before launching a rocket into the roof of the Na Magha net. Barry Robinson in goal wouldn’t have seen the sliothar let alone try to to stop it. But Na Magha had a speed merchant of their own in Keelan Doherty and two minutes later he goaled for the visitors. As the game picked up pace we had three points inside a minute with Johnny Fyfe and Declan Traynor scoring for the home side whilst the Derry men replied through Ryan Adams. Two frees from the ever reliable Niall Donnelly stretched Con Magee’s lead but again Doherty goaled for Na Magha after a mix up in the home defence. A minute later, Timothy Rankin pulled another one back for the visitors and now we had an even game 1-07 to 2-04 and ten minutes of the half remaining. Niall Donnelly nudged Glenravel back in front before the score of the game from Declan Traynor who neatly cut a sideline ball over the bar. Na Magha added two further points in the half through Nelis once more and a long range free from their impressive full back Breandan Quigley between which Niall Donnelly pointed a sixty five leaving the half time score Glenravel 1-10  Na Magha 2-06.

The second half started brightly for the visitors with a brace of points from Padhraig Nelis and Timothy Rankin but that was cancelled out when Glenravel’s full forward Chris Quinn cleverly executed an overhead pull on a high dropping ball giving Na Magha net minder Robinson no chance. Nelis would pull one back but within one minute Declan Traynor scored his second and Glenravel’s third goal to leave a small gap between the teams in Con Magee’s favour 3-10 to 2-09. Feargal Mac an Deanaigh scored for the visitors but Conleth O’Loan responded fro the home side. Timothy Rankin pointed from a free but again the home side upped the ante with points from Johnny Fyfe, Conleth O’Loan and Niall Donnelly and the score was now 3-14  to 2-11, the largest gap so far and only fifteen minutes remaining. Spurred by this Na Magha stepped up a gear and would record the next four scores without reply. The points coming from Padhraig Nelis (0-03) and Timothy Rankin. Two points separated the teams with only five minutes remaining on the clock – all to play for as those valuable league points were up for grabs for whichever team could seize the initiative. The home supporters were delighted when it proved Glenravel had the better staying power in the end. Two goals from Conleth O’Loan and points each from Connor Deery and James Duffin stretched the home team lead with Na Magha only managing a single point Adam Rankin. Referee indicated two minutes added time but Con Magees added to the Derry mens’ woes when Chris Quinn cleverly tapped over the bar having been put through by Martin Scullion and Johnny Fyfe put the game to bed in the dying seconds with a well taken point to leave the final score Glenravel 5-18  Na Magha 2-16.

In truth there was very little between these sides across the hour with the scoreline perhaps flattering Con Magees in the end.  Na Magha will have had a lengthy and  forlorn journey back to the Maiden City with plenty of time to ponder on what might have been.

Teams:

Glenravel:: Ronan Donnelly, Brian O’Neill, Shane Woulahan, Joe Martin, Stevie Acheson, Rian Lennon, Sean Burns, James Duffin (0-02), Connor Deery (0-02), Niall Donnelly (0-06, 5f), Ciaran McIlfatrick, Johnny Fyfe (0-03), Conleth O’Loan (2-02), Chris Quinn (1-01), Declan Traynor (2-02)

Subs:: Michael McDonald for Sean Burns, Martin Scullion for Ciaran McIlfatrick, Chris McCann for Conleth O’Loan

Na Magha:: Barry Robinson, Adam Breslin, Breandan Quigley (0-01), Aaron Campbell, Mark McCloskey, Fergal Mac an Deanaigh (0-01), Daniel Doherty, Bliadhan Glass, Ryan O’Donnell, Padhraig Nelis (0-10, 2f), Timothy Rankin (0-04, 3f), Ryan McAdams (0-01), Keelan Doherty (2-00), Plunkett Roarty, Adam Rankin (0-01).

Subs:: Paul Doherty, Oisin Duddy, Mark McShane