Antrim Hurling League – Division 3
Glenravel 1-18 Lamh Dearg 1-10
Report by Aodh O’Loan – Pic by Kevin Herron
Glenravel made it three wins from three games against arguably their toughest opponents to date. All square at half time in a very low scoring game with both teams guilty of being wasteful in front of goals, it was the home side who came out victorious by outscoring their opponents by eight points in a good team performance throughout the second half.
Both teams battled hard in the opening thirty minutes with scoring chances at a premium. Between them the sides could only muster ten scores and would head into the changing rooms level 1-03 to 0-06 with Lamh Dearg’s goal coming from Daire Cunningham just before half time. Cunningham, Donal Martin and Adam Murray providing the points. Glenravel’s six points were shared between Ciaran Laverty (0-04) and Cormac McKeown (0-02).
Glenravel made a couple of changes at half time bringing on Conleth O’Loan and Johnny Fyfe to try and generate some impetus upfront. The opening seven minutes were pretty even with Lamh Dearg points from Donal Martin and Daire Cunningham being cancelled out by points from Johnny Fyfe and Sean McKay so honours even at that stage. However the home team started to sharpen their shooting and would record the next four scores without reply, all coming from open play. Cormac McKeown’s long range effort was followed by three points on the bounce from Sean McKay.
Daire Cunningham replied for the visitors who were then reduced to fourteen men with as many minutes gone in the second half. Glenravel took full advantage of the extra man and put over the following three scores, two from Cormac McKeown and one from Conleth O’Loan thus opening a five point gap. Daire Cunningham and Adam Murray closed the gap to just three but when Ciaran Laverty goaled from close range with just three minutes remaining the men in green and white looked to have put the game to bed. Refereee Declan McGarry played five minutes of injury time, enough to allow Adam Murray score the visitor’s final point but that was followed by points from Brain O’Neill, Declan Traynor and Cormac McKeown to leave Glenravel comfortable enough winners in the end on a 1-18 to 1-10 scoreline.
