Antrim Hurling League – Division 3
Glenravel 3-19 Na Magha 2-16
Con Magees Glenravel came out on top on a high scoring, open game of hurling between two very evenly matched teams. The mid-week rain had made Maginn Park soft underfoot and the heavy sod certainly didn’t facilitate fast flowing hurling but both teams served up a fine display of our national game nonetheless. Both teams ended up with total of eight different scorers on the day but two individuals in particular kept the scoreboard men busy. Ciaran Laverty of the home team contributed 1-08 over the hour but the visitor’s Deaglan Foley was probably the best hurler on show and his 1-10 kept the Derry men in the game and had he been a little bit luckier with some late frees when they were chasing goals the outcome could have been a lot different.
Glenravel opened the scoring when captain Declan Traynor pointed in the opening minute but three points in succession from the opposition would put Na Magha into a two point lead; Foley and Tómas Gallagher the providers. The home team then started to get on top with an excellent performance from James Duffin at centre half forward providing the pivot for the next six scores; five points and scrambled goal from short range by Sean McKay. Ciaran Laverty and James Duffin would continue to exchange score with Deaglan Foley and the very impressive Keelan Doherty at full forward for Na Magha to leave just a goal in it at half time with Con Magees ahead 1-10 to 0-10.
The second half continued to be a ding dong battle with Foley again dominant in open play and on the scoresheet. Ciaran Laverty extended Glenravel’s lead and when Conleth O’Loan, James Duffin and Ciaran McIlfatrick put over three points in succession it looked ominous for the visitors. With twelve minutes of the half gone, Glenravel’s full forward Shane Woulahan goaled and it looked like the home side would romp to victory. But Deaglan Foley had other ideas and his excellent pointed free was followed by a goal from a thirty yard free and suddenly the visitors were back in the game. Both teams went on to exchange points before Ciaran Laverty goaled for Glenravel and again it looked like a home victory. But one minute later Na Magha would scramble home a goal of their own – they just wouldn’t lie down and in the final five minutes of the game Foley shifted to full forward in search of another major but it wasn’t to be and Glenravel went on to add a couple of points – most notably from young Cormac McKeown who slotted over the score off the day on his first appearance at senior level in the Green and White. Surely a lot more to come from this young man in the years ahead. Na Magha’s Foley and Doherty would record the game’s final two scores but it wasn’t enough as Glenravel ran out victorious on a five point margin.
Both teams are out again on Wednesday night when Na Magha entertain Cloughmills at home and Glenravel make the short journey to neighbours Ballymena, both games throwing in at 6:30pm.
