Under 19 Hurling League
Dunloy 2-16 Loughgiel 3-20
In the early stages of this game it looked like we might be in for a shock as Dunloy led the Loughgiel by six points, but once the found their rhythm Loughgiel edged their way back. They drew level nearing half time, and though Dunloy went a point ahead again by the break, when the Shamrocks turned to play with the wind at their back they produced some great hurling to win by eight in the end.
After both teams exchanged points in the opening two minutes Dunloy were given a great boost when Paudie Martin got in to fire home a goal it was score for score for a while as Cathair Gormley, Aodhan McGarry and Ryan Mort all sent over for the home side, with Preston McGarry, Ronan McCollum, Ron Fitzgerald and Roan McGarry replying for the home side. A great solo effort from Barry mcCloskey and another from a Aodhan McGarry free had the gap out to six for Dunloy but Loughgiel were starting to find their feet and it took a great double save by Dunloy keeper Eoghan Richmond to keep them at bay.
However two quick scores from Ronan Fitzgerald and Danny McAuley were followed by two in a minute from Ronan McCollum and when ‘Rosie’ and Tiago McGarry chipped in with two more the side were level with half time fast approaching, though Aodhan McGarry got Dunloy back ahead just before Anthony McAuley sounded his half time whistle. (1-10 to 0-12)
With the breeze behind them in the second half Loughgiel went ahead with two early points and they struck a significant blow when ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald fired low to the Dunloy net to put them four ahead. The excellent McGarry came back with another point from a free for Dunloy to cut the gap back to three, but Loughgiel were on top and after a great point from half back by Ruairi McCormick Daire Patterson delivered a killer blow when he fired to the net after Eoghan Richmond had denied the Shamrocks with two point blank saves.
When centre back Ben McGarry added a point from inside his own half, you felt it could be one way traffic, but Dunloy hit back and a great move was finished to the net by McGarry to cut the gap back to four.
The game was killed off when Loughgiel’s left half forward Danny McAuley cut in along the endline and fired a shot from a narrow angle to the Dunloy net, and though the young Cuchullains kept battling away the gap was too big to bridge at this stage as Loughgiel ran out winners by eight points.
