Antrim Hurling League Division 3
All Saints Ballymena 0-12 Glenravel Con Magees1-13
Four points separated these teams at the end of a hard fought game on a heavy sod in Quinn Park under floodlights. Heavy rain all week meant free flowing hurling was in short supply as both teams tried their heart out on a turf that in horse racing parlance was “soft to medium”. It was a night for free takers and both teams can lay claim to having experts in that department with Ciaran Neeson for the home side and Ciaran Laverty for the visitors providing half of their team’s scores from placed balls.
The wind went from significant to non existent on several occasions during the match probably confusing both teams equally. Glenravel played into it in the first half and with eight wides and four shots falling short into the keeper’s hands they would have been happy enough to go in at half time all square 0-06 to 1-03. Ciaran Laverty hammering home the Glenravel goal from short range. In that first half Ballymena dominated possession with full forward Ciaran Neeson ably assisted by Damian Gillan and Liam Cassley on the half forward line giving Con Magees plenty to think about. That trio would deliver nine of the dozen points All Saints amassed over the hour.
Two resurgent teams appeared in the second half with both recording a brace of points each before the half was three minutes old. But Glenravel started to edge in front by a few points and were playing the better hurling at this stage. The Ciaran’s, Laverty and Neeson were putting frees over like it was the shoot out at the O. K. Corral but try as they might the home side could not close the gap. As the clock strode towards thirty minutes Glenravel had a three point lead forcing All Saints to go for goal but the Green & White rearguard held out. The final counter attack of the evening saw Conleth O’Loan stretch Glenravel’s lead to four points and effectively kill off the game.
Both teams would have gone into this game with high expectations, buoyed by first round victories at the weekend in Division 3 and Ballymena will definitely think back on a first half dominance which they should have benefitted better from on the scoreboard. They now have a tough encounter next time out away to Cloughmills whilst Glenravel will entertain Lamh Dearg at Maginn Park. Both games throw in at 2pm next Sunday.
Special mention to All Saint’s Luke O’Rawe who gave a masterclass in sideline cuts over the hour. Despite difficult underfoot conditions O’Rawe’s artistry in this most difficult skill, made more so by the heavy underfoot sod was a highlight for spectators from both sides.
