Antrim Hurling League Division 1
Loughgiel 0-24 Rossa 1-19
Despite not scoring for the last eleven minutes of the game Loughgiel had done enough to see of the challenge of Rossa in an entertaining league game at Fr Healy Park, on Sunday, winning in the end by two points. Rossa had sportingly agreed to travel to Loughgiel on Sunday to play the game as part of the club’s celebration of the 1983 All Ireland winning team, which of course was the main part of the day’s events. By coincidence Rossa wore the same colours as the Shamrocks faced in the All Ireland final 40 years ago this week, and the men in blue and gold provided stiff opposition for the Sharmocks on Sunday.
Loughgiel started with points from Dan McCloskey and Caolan Blair but Rossa came back to level with points from play by Aodhan O’Brien and Pearce Shortt. Four in a row from the home side from Paul Boyle, Cathal Hargan, Rian McMullan, and Shan McGrath, and though Stephen Shannon pulled on back for the visitors, two more from Hargan and Bubbles McMullan put five between the sides.
It was score for score during the second quarter as both teams added seven apiece to see the Shamrocks go in at the break with a 0-16 to o-1-8 lead, the Rossa goal coming from corner forward Aidan Orchin.
Aodhan O’Brien got the first score of the second half to bring Rossa back to within four, but midfielder Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee soon had the gap out to five again with a well taken point from play. Rossa came back with point from Aodhan O’Brien and Aidan Orchin to leave just a goal between the sides, but Loughgiel hit the next four scores as McKee (2), Shan McGrath and Rian McMullan to push their team seven clear by the 49th minute.
As it turned out that was to be their last score, but despite hitting five in a row, three from Aodhan O’Brien and one each for Dominic McEnhill and Tomas Morgan they were still two short at the final whistle.
