Antrim Under 20 Hurling League
Dunloy 5-13 Loughgiel 6-18
Loughgiel made it four out of four in the Under 20 Hurling League when they travelled to Dunloy on Monday evening and beat the Cuchullains in a highly dramatic game which saw three players sent off, and in truth there could well have been more.
Despite all the shenanigans there was some great hurling played as two very good teams went toe to toe. A lightning start to both halves by the Shamrocks gave them they upper hand, as their razor sharp forwards always had the edge, but Dunloy made two comebacks during the game that Lazarus would have been proud of. However Loughiel’s full forward line were always able to find an answer when the chips were down and were well worthy of their eight point win.
There were 3 goals on the board inside a minute and ten seconds, Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan getting two for the Shamrock and Conal Kelly getting one for Dunloy. Jack McCloskey and Christy McGarry added points for the visitors but Dairi McMullan and Barry Scott came back with two for the home side.
Ten minutes in Loughgiel hit a purple patch which saw them hit 1-7 with the concession of just one point, the Shamrocks scores coming from Ronan McCollum with 1-1, Rian McMullan 0-3 and Jack McCloskey 0-1, while Conal Kelly was on target for Dunloy. The gap went out to fourteen by the time Dunloy started the first of their comebacks, and in an incredible five minute spell they hit 2-4, the goals coming from Ryan Mort and Callum Mullan.
Loughgiel started the second half, just as they had the first, and a goal and a point from Bubbles McMullan and a point from Conor O’Mullan had the gap out to ten again. Dunloy responded with a goal from Barry Scott and two points by Ryan Mort, but Loughgiel came again and in a five minutes spell they all but sealed the win with goals from Jack McCloskey and Ronan McCollum. To their credit Dunloy kept battling to the end and another Ryan Mort goal gave them new hope, but Loughgiel had the points wrapped up at this stage.
The two teams could meet again in the championship in a few weeks’ time if other matches go their way and it is fair to say there will be many punters queing up to see that game
DUNLOY
Eoghan Richmond, Michael Taylor, Cathair McCloskey, Darra Watterson, Barry McCloskey, Daire McMullan, Sean Scullion, Oisin Elliott, Eoghan McFerran, Conal Kelly, Ryan Mort, Callum Mullan, Eoin O’Kane, Barry Scott, Tom McFerran.
LOUGHGIEL
Mark Christie, Conall McCloskey, Ruairi McCloskey, Cathal Connolly, Ruairi McCloksey, Enda Og McGarry, Conin Sherridan, Eunan Laverty, Jack McKendry, Conor O’Mullan, Christy McGarry, Eoin McGarry, Ronan McColum, Rian McMullan, Jack McCloskey.
Referee – Tarlach Conway
