Antrim Hurling League Division 4
Ardoyne – 1-11 Davitt’s 0-12
This potential league decider between Ardoyne and Davitts was like the boxing match that coughed and spluttered until the final round when both contestants opened up with all they had got. The victory for Ardoyne puts the destination of the league title into their own hands with only three games remaining.
It was a game littered with niggling fouls from the throw in. Ardoyne were first to take advantage, moving three points ahead through the accurate striking of Patrick McGreevy. It took Davitts a while to get focused on the game but in doing so they fired over three points of their own through Marcas Toner. A 65 from Toner pushed the Davitts side into a one pint lead.
McGreevy has settled well into this impressive Ardoyne side and went on to fire over two points from play. The first came when he collected a breaking ball to run through for a score, and shortly afterwards a great catch and lay off to McGreevy from the ageless Jim Og McAuley saw Ardoyne move into a one point lead. Just before a much needed water break in the sweltering heat, McGivern responded with a further point from play for Davitts to leave the sides level.
Davitts started the second quarter the stronger of the sides, with two quick frees coming from Toner. A beautiful long range point from Baker reduced the deficit but once again the stop start play saw Davitts rewarded with two further converted frees. Toner though showed his own touch of class with a beautiful over the shoulder strike that split the posts.
Half-time: Davitts 0-9 Ardoyne 0-8
As with the second quarter, Davitts started the second half with a strong push that threatened the Ardoyne goals. The full back line and Agnew in goals put up a sterling defence and rebutted the attack. This back line has been the foundation stone of Ardoyne’s success this season.
Jim Og McAuley was a man on a mission for Ardoyne as he set up McGreevy initially, and McKillen shortly afterwards, for points from play. Agnew kept Davitts in touch from frees, but Ardoyne gained the upper hand in the third quarter to bring the scores level at the second water break.
The game was coming more open in play and it was difficult to separate the sides. A beautiful goal from McVicker from 40 yards out was countered with three further points from Davitts to level the sides once again.
The final ten minutes saw the tension rise significantly, but it was the men from Ardoyne who pushed through with a pointed free from McVicker and a further point from the impressive McGreevy to leave the Northenders two points ahead at the final whistle.
Scenes following the final whistle were witness to the importance of this game in deciding the destination of the league title. Ardoyne deserved the victory and will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to bring a senior hurling title home to the district for the first time in almost 35 years.
Davitts: 1 Ruairi McIlroy 2 Odhran Gorman 3 Thomas Toland 4 Tomas Mac Carsain 5 Christopher Gallagher 6 Steven McGivern (0-2) 2f 7 Jamie McNally 8 Peter Og Carleton 9 Caoimhin Heaney 10 Cormac Maguire 11 Deaghlan Mooney (0-1) 12 Jay Maguire 13 Caoimhin Rainey (0-1) 14 Chris Cunningham 15 Marcas Toner (0-10) 9f
Ardoyne: 1 JP Agnew, 2 Pascal Clarke, 3 Paul Baker(0-2) 2f, 4 Cormac Curran, 5 Sean Searle, 6 Caolan Wallace, 7 Christopher McShane, 8 Oisin Mac An Bhiocaire(1-1), 9 Paul McGuigan 10 Daniel Moore (0-1) 11 Cahal Keown, 12 Pearse Hull, 13 Patrick McGreevy (0-7) 4f, 14 Jim Og McAuley 15 Kealan McCallan (0-1), Diarmuid Martin, Cormac Barnes, Paul O’Halloran, Joe McDowell, Piarais O’Neill, Conor Flannery, Stephen Hill, Eoghain Mac An tSearraig, Eamon Mac Lochlainn, Matthew Crommie, Padraig O Deorain Dean Goodall, Enda Slattery, Aran Stewart, Matt McKillen(0-1),
