Casement SC JHC Group 1
Armoy 4-12 Lamh Dhearg 3-12
Glen Rovers Armoy overcame the considerable challenge of Lamh Dhearg in this top of the table-winner takes all Casement SC Group Junior Hurling Championship meeting in Armoy on Saturday.
In the proverbial game of two halves, it was the men from Hannastown who looked on their way to victory and a direct spot in the semi-final when they led the local side 3-5 to 0-8
It was a much improved Glen Rovers in the second half however as they scored 4-4 while tightening up considerably at the back to overhaul the Lamh Dhearg lead and win by three in the end.
The early exchanges were fairly even with Turlach McBride 0-2, Eamon McCaughan and Owen Kinney on target for the men from the Glen and Aidan McGuigan, Daire Cunningham, Mick Herron and Patrick Mervyn responding at the other end to leave it 0-4 to 0-4.
The game swung dramatically in favour of the visitors however as they struck with three goals between the 15th and 24th minute to put themselves in a commanding position.
Full-forward Gerard Smyth began the onslaught at the end of the opening quarter and added a second in the 21st minute and another from Daire Cunningham put the Lamh’s in a strong position as they went on to lead 3-5 to 0-8 at the short whistle.
Six of Armoy’s first half points came from the stick of Turlach McBride with Owen Kinney and Eamon McCaughan completed their first half total but the Glen Rovers look to have it all to do in the second half.
The home side started the second half on the front foot and within four minutes they had clawed back the visitors lead with Eamon McCaughan rattling the Lamh Dhearg net after two minutes and Owen Kinney following with a second.
Trevor Linton put Glen Rovers ahead with a point from a free in the 8th minute with Declan Straney, Aidan McGuigan and Mick Herron keeping Lamh Dhearg in touch with points at the other end.
Ciaran McKenna put Armoy in a strong position when he fired home their third goal in the 13th minute and when Trevor Linton added another in the 20th minute the game had swung dramatically in favour of the home side.
Lamh Dhearg fought right to the end with Gerard Smyth, Aidan McGuigan and Finnegan adding points but late points from Eamon McCaughan, Trevor Linton and Turlach McBride sealed the win for Armoy.
Glen Rovers top the group and earn an automatic semi-final place but Lamh Dhearg will not be too despondent as they go forward to a quarter-final meeting with All Saints in a fortnight’s time.
Armoy: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Callum Coyles, 3 John Dillon, 4 Liam Dillon, 5 Hugh O’Kane, 6 Thomas Burns, 7 Shane Devlin, 8 Ciaran McKenna, 9 Turlach McBride, 10 Eoin O’Boyle, 11 Eamon McCaughan, 12 Joseph McFetridge, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Owen Kinney, 15 Colin Lordan
Lamh Dhearg: 1 Conor McConville, 2 Sean Paul Gibson, 3 Odhran Waldron, 4 Tiernan McKenna, 5 Daniel Murray, 6 Declan Lynch, 7 Fionn Mervyn, 8 Ciaran Boyd, 9 Padraig Mervyn, 10 Mark Finnegan, 11 Aidan McGuigan, 12 Micheal Herron, 13 Daire Cunningham, 14 Gerard Smyth 15 Michael McGuigan, 19 Declan Straney
Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)