Antrim Junior-B Hurling semi-final
Ardoyne 4-27-0-08 Henry-Joy McCracken’s
From Kevin Herron at Fennell Park
Ardoyne confidently brushed aside the challenge of near neighbours Henry-Joy McCracken’s to book their place in the Junior B Hurling final with a 4-27-0-08 win at Fennell Park this afternoon.
They made a fast start with Oisin McVicker floating over their first two points and Aran Stewart then converting a free.
The hosts were relentless and extended their lead when Daniel Moore intercepted a puck-out and returned it between the posts, Oisin McVicker claimed his third point from play and Moore successfully measured two further strikes between the large posts to give his side a seven-point to no score lead.
Henry-Joy’s eventually responded courtesy of a Patrick Munan free and they found another from the same scenario- this time Joe McQuillan finding range in response to a Pearse Hull point in-between times.
The game’s opening goal arrived with little over ten minutes on the clock, Daniel Moore floated the ball into the square where Dean Goodall helped it towards the back post and Oisin McVicker turned the ball past Eamonn McAteer to give his side a 1-08-0-02 lead.
Joe McQuillan replied with Henry-Joy’s third converted free of the half, though Pearse Hull and David Saunders both dropped over successive points and Oisin McVicker would later clip over his fourth score.
Ardoyne found their second goal of the game through Paul McGuigan- who saw his low effort crash off the post and in- to make it 2-11-0-03.
The pressure continued on the Henry-Joys defence as Oisin McVicker played the ball out wide to Aran Stewart- who angled over a superb point and after David Saunders pressed high on the resulting puck-out; he forced a turnover which led to a further score.
The visitors ended the half with back-to-back points to close the gap slightly, Patrick Munan doubled his half’s tally with a second converted free and Raymond Burns dropped over his sides first from play – but they trailed 2-13-0-05 at the interval.
Henry-Joy’s picked up where they left off before the break as Patrick Munan hit his sides third score on the spin.
But Ardoyne soon found their scoring range again, they hit four points in succession- three of those coming from Aran Stewart frees- with Daniel Moore adding to his three first half scores to give them a 2-17-0-06 advantage.
Munan struck Henry-Joys fifth free of the afternoon- though it would be his sides last score for almost twenty minutes as Ardoyne pressed home on their ever-increasing lead.
They should have added a third goal ten minutes into the second half after David Saunders saw his low shot blocked, the loose ball fell invitingly to Dean Goodall- whose shot was magnificently turned around the post by Eamonn McAteer in the Henry-Joy’s goal.
Aran Stewart would drop the resulting 65’ over the bar and then add a further score from play moments after before Saunders angled over a nice score for their sides 20th point of the contest.
With little under a quarter of an hour remaining Henry-Joys were reduced to 14-men as referee Kevin Parke ordered off Mark Caldwell for dissent.
The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage, Oisin McVicker conjured his first point of the half and Pearse Hull then cut the ball back to Paul Baker to land a terrific point from range.
Caolan Wallace got his name on the scoresheet after a neat interchange with McVicker and quick-free caught the visitors napping and led to Paul Baker doubling his tally in the process.
McVicker brought his tally to six and half-back Paul Baker landed a third score as the points tally rose.
Henry-Joy’s eventually put an end to Ardoyne’s succession of scores when Raymond Burns popped the ball into the path of Munan- who burrowed his way towards the net and could only force it over the bar rather than under and into the net.
At the other end Paul Baker threaded a pass through to Oisin McVicker who confidently arrowed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-26-0-08.
Substitute Hugh Grieve made an instant impact late-on, dropping a shot over the bar and nudging home his sides fourth goal with the final act of a one-sided semi-final as Ardoyne ran out convincing 4-27-0-08 winners and booked their place in Wednesday evenings decider.
Ardoyne: JP Agnew, P Clarke, P Baker (0-03), S McGearty, C Wallace (0-01), M McLaughlin, C McShane, P Hull (0-02), P McGuigan (1-00), D Moore (0-04), O McVicker (2-06), D Saunders (0-03), J Og McAuley, A Stewart (0-07, 0-04f, 0-01 65’), D Goodall. Subs: C Curran for J Og McAuley (HT), H Grieve (1-01) for D Moore (52), S Searle for A Stewart (52), E Slattery for D Saunders (52).
Henry-Joy McCracken’s: E McAteer, C Lowry, M Carlin, P Fitzpatrick, P O’Hagan, M Caldwell, R Clarke, J McQullian (0-02f), A O’Rourke, S McIlhatton, P Munan (0-05, 0-03f), R Burns (0-01), S O’Reilly, C O’Neill, K Mallon. Subs: B Mullan for R Clarke (42).
Referee: Kevin Parke (Náomh Eánna)
