ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 1-15 Shane O’Neill’s 2-18
Both sides fielded without a number of regular starters, but both showed their class in fielding, blocking and score taking, making for an entertaining watch for the supporters. With championship a matter of weeks away both managers will have benefited from what they saw today with Ciaran Logan hitting 1-06 (3 frees) for the Tir na nOg and for the visitors Dylan Mc Laughlin and Darren Hamill hitting 5 points each.
Early wides from both teams led to a frustrating few minutes but on the fourth minute Sean O’Hare popped up and sent the sliotar into the onion bag beyond Kevin Sheerin in the Randalstown nets before Ciaran Magill added a further point.
Ciaran Logan got his first of the day for the Whitehill side before Glenarm’s Magill added another fine point and Logan replied for the hosts but this score was cancelled out by a great point off the stick of Dylan Mc Laughlin.
The travelling support soon found their voice when Darren Hamill stood over a free from deep in his own half and with pin point accuracy split the Randalstown posts.
Sean O’Hare was enjoying his corner forward berth and he collected a block down from keeper Sheerin and he side stepped his marker and drove another rasper to the net!
This shook the home team and they upped the ante, hitting a purple patch scoring 1-04 without reply.
First on target was Kevin Mc Cann hitting a score from 40 yards, with Eamon Og Mc Allister and Logan following with converted free’s and Emmet Martin added to their tally before Logan followed with a goal for the home side.
Glenarm at this stage needed a lift and it was their captain who sent a stinging effort over the bar. A three man combination with O Hare passing to Hamill who cutely evaded his marker and fed the ball to Dylan Mc Laughlin who added another score before Niall Mc Garel followed with a point to give the sky blue’s a 4 point lead.
Logan reduced the arrears with a well struck point before Hamill replied from another free for the visitors.
Tir na nOg finished the half the stronger with Logan pointing a free to leave three between the teams at the interval and all still to play for in the second half.
HT Tir na nOg 1-08 Shane Uí Neill 2-08
After the interval Daniel Black swung over a point for the visitors with Eamon Og replying for the home team and Black returned the favour in this tight tussle with his second of the match. Benny Mc Dermott who came on late in the first period as a blood sub for Ben O Boyle, showed early promise as he sent a superb sideline cut over the home side’s bar, for an inspirational score.
Eamon Og Mc Allister replied again for the Whitehill men but this was cancelled with Hamill stroking over a “65”, and Mc Laughlin added another point from deep out on the wing.
Emmet Martin and Aaron Mc Neilly replied to eat into Glenarm’s four point lead but Glenarm’s talisman, Hamill showed his scoring ability with a perfect effort from halfway and out near the sideline, firing over the black spot. Mc Laughlin joined him with a mirror image score from 45 yards and substitute Liam Mulvenna gathered a loose sliotar and lofted over a fine individual effort.
Randalstown replied with Daniel Martin and a Sean Duffin (free) as they tried to cut the gap with time almost up before Glenarm’s wing forward Dylan Mc Laughlin took his personal tally to 5 points with a fine effort.
Daniel Martin pointed for the host’s but the final score of the game fell to Glenarm’s Ciaran Magill who rifled over a point to seal victory for the visitors.
Its been a fine season for Glenarm in their first back in division 2 for a number of years and they can now look forward to the Intermediate championship with some confidence while Tir na nOg will recover from today’s defeat to give the championship a real bash.
