Shamrocks add another piece of silverware with emphatic win

Antrim U20 Hurling Championship final

Loughgiel Shamrocks 5-18 O’Donovan Rossa 0-7

Loughgiel Shamrocks conveyer belt of talent rolls on and on Sunday at Dunsilly they collected another Under 20 title when they beat Rossa in the final with a bit to spare.

The Belfast side went into the game as rank outsiders. In such a position they were hoping for a good start, but it was the opposite that happened as Christy McGarry fired to the Rossa net in the opening minute. Rossa had their fair share of possession for a while after that but could not make it show on the scoreboard and they received another body blow when Rian McMullan punished a slip in the Rossa defence to fire home goal number two.

Loughgiel were 2-2 to 0-0 in front before Rossa raised their first flag through Darragh Turley, but the Shamrocks hit back with a Ruairi McCollum goal. Turley accuracy from frees kept Rossa on the scoreboard but by half time the Shamrocks had stretched their lead to 4-8 to 0-4 and it was clear there was no way back for Rossa.

***Man of the Match Finn Henry makes a spectacular high cactch during the second half***

Top scorer Turley had the first point of the new half but with the breeze at their backs Loughgiel were rampant and goal number five came when Enda Og McGarry’s shot for goal was well saved by Groves in the Rossa goals, but Damien Quinn was to fire home the rebound.

Turley’s accuracy from frees saw the Rossa score reach 0-7, all of them from Turley but Loughgiel always had a reply and a great point by man of the match Finn Henry from inside his own half put the seal on the win for Loughgiel.

**Rossa’s Eoin Trainor wins possession at Ronan McCollum challenges**

LOUGHGIEL: M Christie; C McCloskey, R McCloskey, C Connolly; F Henry (0-1), E Og McGarry (0-1, 65), R McCormick (0-1); D Quinn (1-1), B McGarry (0-1); C O’Mullan (0-1), E Laverty (0-1), C McGarry (2-5, 1-0 pen, 0-5f); R McCollam (1-1), R McMullan (1-4, 0-2f), E McGarry (0-1).

Subs: J McKendry for E Laverty (38), C Sheridan for B McGarry (46), J McDonnell for C McCloskey (50), D Devlin ro R McCollam (50).

ROSSA: L Groves; P Moyes, B McAuley, J Duffy; R Murray, E Trainor, D Cunningham; O May, A McClean; D Rogan, F McIlroy, D Turley (0-7, 6f, 1 65); M Toner, P Shortt, J Close.

Subs: G McBurney-Hegarty for J Duffy (37), M McKernan for J Close (54), B McBurney-Hegarty for O May (56)

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)