U20B Hurling Championship
Naomh Eanna 1-16 St. Paul’s 1-13
Naomh Eanna staged a strong second half comeback to defeat a good St. Paul’s team in the U20B hurling championship at Hightown on Saturday afternoon. The home side trailed by 1-8 to 1-7 at the break but outscored the opposition in the second half to win by three in the end.
Colm Curran was the go to man for the Glengormley men and finished the game with 0-9, 8 of them coming from frees and his unerring accuracy proved the difference in the end against a St. Paul’s side who gave it everything.
It was St. Enda’s who got off to the better start and points from Curran (0-2f’s), Malachy McGibbon and Conor Bradley saw them lead by 0-4 to 0-2 early in the game. Joey Ashby and two further Colm Curran converted frees saw the home side six in front and they looked on their way to a comfortable half time lead but St. Paul’s suddenly came to life.
The Shaw’s Road side hit six points on the bounce as Conal Duffy and Declan Quinn drove them forward from mid-field to take the lead as the game headed into the closing stages of the half but Conor Bradley looked to have given the home side back the initiative when he hit the St. Paul’s net.
It looked like Bradley’s goal would be enough to give Naomh Eanna the lead at half time but St. Paul’s came back with a goal of their own and it was the Shaw’s Road outfit who held a narrow one point advantage as the whistle sounded for the break.
It was St. Paul’s that pushed on at the start of the second half with another flurry of unanswered points to move three in front after 10 minutes but the ‘Hoops’ wouldn’t score again until late in the game as the Glengormley men suddenly sprung to life.
Colm Curran led the way as he pointed three further frees and Michael Devenny added another to make it all square after 18 minutes and the momentum was now very much with Naomh Eanna as the St. Paul’s challenge began to fade.
The home side finished strongly and further points from Michael Devenny, Conor McAllister, Colm Curran and Jacob Mackin saw them safely through to the final where they will meet Sarsfield’s who recorded a six point win over Con Magee’s.
St. Enda’s: 1 Shane Gray, 2 M Maginn, 3, Owen Kennedy, 4 Conor McAllister, 5 Eoghan O’Hare, 6 Dara Maguire, 7 Ciaran McAllister, 8 Conor Bradley, 9 Cian O’Connor, 10 Jacob Mackin, 11 Colm Curran, 12 Joey Ashby, 13 Michael Devenny, 14 Oisin Quinn, 15 Malachy McGibbbon, 16 Daniel O’Kane, 17 Ronan Bradley, 18 Oscar Smyth, 19 Leo Ashe
St. Paul’s: 1 Tiarnan Auld, 2 Callum Murray, 3 Anto McLaughlin, 4 Thomas Duff, 5 Liam Walsh, 6 Caomhin Heaney, 7 Barrie Burns, 8 Conall Duffy, 9 Declan Quinn, 10 Caomhin Duffy, 11 Aaron Carey, 12 Caolan O’Duibhfinn, 13 Paul Og Donnelly, 14 Lorcan Phillips, 15 Sean Munce
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
