North Antrim Under 17 Hurling – Darragh Cup
Dunloy: 2-13(19) loughgiel: 2-16(22)
Loughgiel held off a second half comeback from Dunloy in Friday evening’s semi-final of the Darragh Cup at Pearse Park, to book their place in next week’s final in Cushendall.
The Shamrocks appeared to have the measure of their great rivals when they went eight clear by half time, but Dunloy battled back in the second half and with ten minutes still to play had cut the gap to the minimum. The young Cuchullains looked like they had the winning of it at this stage, but Loughgiel reacted well under pressure and two points by Jack McCloskey steadied the ship and gave them the win by a three point margin.
After and early exchange of points between Loughgiel’s Ronan Fitzgerald and Dunloy’s Padraig Martin, Loughgiel began to get on top and three from play from Ronan Fitzgerald, Roan McGarry and Jack McCloskey put them three clear. Free taker Padraig Martin pulled one back for the home side, but two more from play for the Shamrocks from Laim Glackin and Ronan Fitzgerald, had them four to the good at the end of the opening quarter.
Padraig Martin pulled one back for Dunloy but a goal from corner forward Roan McGarry put Loughgiel in the driving seat. Dunloy were in danger of going under, but two minutes later Aiden Richmond had the ball in the Loughgiel net to revive their fortunes. The elation of Richmond’s goal didn’t last long as three points in a row from Roan McGarry, Jack McCloskey and Ronan Fitzgerald had them nine ahead by the 22nd minute. Oisin McCamphill and Padraig Martin pulled a couple back for Dunloy to close the gap to seven, but a point from a Jack McCloskey free in the final minutes of the half had the Shamrocks 8 clear at the interval.
Dunloy needed a good start to the second half, and they got it as they hit the first four scores after the restart. A point from Frances McMullan was followed a minute later by a goal from Aiden Richmond, and when Martin and Richmond added points there was just two between the side. Jack McCloskey steadied the ship for the Shamrocks with two points as they regained control of the game. For the last twenty minutes it was nip and tuck, but the advantage the Shamrocks had accrued during that first half was to stand them in good stead.
Three in a row, two by Padraig Martin and one from a 65 by Ben O’Kane, had the game in the balance once again, but Jack McCloskey steadied the ship for Loughgiel with two points in the final minutes to secure their place in next week’s final against Oisins, the third year in a row these teams will meet in the decider.
