Antrim Hurling League – Division 4
Ardoyne 6-12 Loch Mór Dál gCais 1-16
A 25 year famine in hurling titles was ended for Ardoyne Kickhams on Sunday with a convincing win over Loch Mór na gCais in front of a crowd of almost 200 people at Fennell Park. It was a festive atmosphere with under-age training boosting the noise and providing the backdrop with the knowledge that a win would deliver the league title to the Kickhams.
The home team started strongly and a free from his own 21 yard line by Baker was flicked into the net by Jim Og McAuley. How fitting for the opening score in this historic game for Ardoyne to be scored by one of the true legends of this proud club.
This opening score was quickly followed up by McVicker when a clever ball from McAuley was collected by McVicker and duly dispensed to the back of the net.
Loch Mór came storming back with four quick points, three from the ever dangerous Turley and a further long range score from Carson. It wasn’t long though before Ardoyne went further ahead with 3 points from McVicker.
McVicker rose magnificently to take a high ball and must have thought that a goal was coming, only for a magnificent save from Graham in the Loch Mór nets. Patrick McGreevy was on hand though to put the rebound into the net to see Ardoyne take control of this game. McVicker took another point before Goodall got himself on the score sheet for Ardoyne. While Loch Mór added on two further points in this opening half, McAuley kept Ardoyne’s momentum strong with a further point from play. The first half finished with McGreevy slotting the ball to the back of the net to leave 4 goals between the sides at half-time.
Half-Time: Ardoyne 4-07 Loch Mór Dál gCais 0-7
The U6 hurlers and camogs from the Kickhams club entertained the large crowd at half-time and they got great encouragement from all present. As the senior hurlers came back on to the pitch they stepped aside to applaud the U6s off the pitch. A great gesture for the young gaels who will hopefully have a special memory of this historic day.
While both teams scored 7 points in the second half, the 2 goals scored by Ardoyne in addition to the 4 in the first half made the difference. It was an impressive scoring tally with Peter Pan McAuley rolling back the years with a great individual performance and putting 2-1 on to the scoreboard.
As the second half developed it was clear that Ardoyne were on their way to lifting the league title with two games to spare. It was a spirited performance from Loch Mór, but Ardoyne simply had too much firing power and for the second game in succession had racked up 6 goals by the final whistle. The end of the game saw lthe arge crowd gave the men in black and white a rousing reception as they paraded the league trophy.
A great result for the men from Ardoyne and deserved reward for the hard work put in over the past 5 years as they push to re-establish hurling in North Belfast.
Ardoyne: 1 JP Agnew, 2 Pascal Clarke, 3 Paul Baker, 4 Cormac Curran, 5 Sean Searle, 6 Caolan Wallace, 7 Christopher McShane (0-1), 8 Paul McGuigan, 9 Dean Goodall (0-1), 10 Dan Moore (1-3), 11 Oisin Mac An Bhiocaire(1-3), 12 Pearse Hull (0-1), 13 Patrick McGreevy,
(1-0) , 14 Jim Og McAuley (2-1), 15 Kealan McCallan,
Subs: Michael McGreevy, Enda Slattery, Cormac Barnes (0-2) 2f, Matt McKillen (1-0), Paul O’Halloran, Joe McDowell, Cathal Clarke, Eamon Mac Lochlainn, Piarais O’Neill, Oisin McCluskey, Conor Flannery, Stephen Hill, Eoghain Mac An tSearraig, Cahal Keown, Matthew Crommie, Padraig O Deorain
Loch Mór: 1 Bailey Graham 2 David McAreavey 3 Jack McKenna, 4 Oisin O’Boyle, 5 James Magorrian, 6 Daniel Bell, 8 Ruairi Bannon, 9 Declan Phillips, 10 Lorcan Phillips (0-2), 11 Cormac Dwyer, 12 Darragh Turley (1-9), 13 Cathan O hHeireamhoin (0-1), 14 Ferdia Carson(0-3), 15 Conor Jones (0-1),
Referee: Eamon Mulvenna
