JHC Group 1
Davitt’s 2-11 Armoy 0-20
Glen Rovers, Armoy withstood a late rally from Michael Davitt’s at Davitt’s Park on Friday night to collect the hard earned points in the Junior Hurling Championship, Round 1 opener.
At different stages of the game the North Antrim visitors looked like they were taking control but in each instance Davitt’s came back strongly and will be disappointed that they did not take something from the game.
The early exchanges were fairly even with John Rocky Dillon pointing Armoy ahead from a ‘65’ in the opening minute and Colm McKee replying with a point from play.
Dillon edged the visitors in front once more before Jay Maguire brought the sides level for the second time with a point in the 5th minute.
The end to end exchanges continued as PJ McBride and Rocky Dillon from a ‘65’ edged Armoy two in front but again Davitt’s found a response with Peter Carleton and Jay Maguire sending over two excellent scores.
There had been little between the sides going into the second quarter but suddenly Glen Rovers found another gear and they hit six unanswered points through John Dillon, Trevor Linton (f), Eamonn McCaughan, Linton again, PJ McBride and Thomas Burns by the 20th minute and looked in complete control.
Davitt’s were struggling but they came back with a goal when Caoimhin Rainey fielded a long searching ball and his shot across goal was blocked by Peter Carleton was on hand to apply the finishing touch and breathe new life into the home side.
Trevor Linton converted three frees for Armoy during the closing stages of the half with the excellent Marcas Toner striking a couple of fine points for the home side to leave it 0-13 to 1-7 in favour of Armoy at the change of ends.
Emmet O’Hara replaced Conor Christie in the Armoy side while Michael Rowntree came into the Davitt’s attack early in the second half and again Armoy looked like they gaining the upper hand with Trevor Linton, Rocky Dillon, Arthur Devlin and Linton from a free moving them six ahead in a low scoring third quarter.
Marcas Toner then saw his free come back off an upright as the home side continued to waste chances before side stepping a couple of markers and sending over the best score of the game with six minutes remaining.
Davitt’s were still battling hard for every ball and Caoimhin Rainey finally opened their second half account with a point in the 19th minute but this was quickly cancelled as PJ McBride replied for the Armoy men.
The visitors replied through Emmet O’Hara to move seven ahead and they looked to have done enough but they failed to deal with a Marcas Toner free which dropped invitingly for Cormac Maguire who drilled it first time to the net.
Suddenly it was back to four and substitute Deaglan Mooney followed from a free to leave just a goal between the sides and the momentum was now very much with the home side.
Another Mooney converted free cut the gap further with time almost up but an Emmet O’Hara point from a breakaway eased Glen Rovers three ahead once more and despite a frantic late finish from the home side, that’s how it finished.
Davitt’s: 1 Antoin McLauglin, 2 Odhran Gorman, 3 Thomas Toland, 4 Thomas Carson, 5 Jason Park, 6 Stephen McGivern, 7James McNally, 8 Peter Carleton, 9 Caoimhin Heaney, 10 Cormac Maguire, 11 Colm McKee, 12 Jay Maguire, 13 Caoimhin Rainey, 14 Chris Cunningham, 15 Marcas Toner
Subs: 17 Michael Rowntree, 19 Deaglan Mooney
Armoy: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Arhur Devlin, 3 Shane Devlin, 4 Joseph McFetridge, 5 Hugh O’Kane, 6 Thomas Burns, 7 Liam Dillon, 8 Ciaran McCormick-McKenna, 9 PJ McBride, 10 Eoin O’Boyle, 11 John Dillon, 12 Eamonn McCaughan, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Colin Lordan, 15 Conor Christie, Subs: Timmy Burns, 21 Emmet O’Hara
Referee: Chris Brown (St. Paul’s)
