Antrim Under 19B Football Championship
Tir na nÓg 4-9 Con Magees 5-10
A hat-trick from full forward Peadar McDonnell and two from substitute Daire Higgins saw Glenravel come from eleven points down early in the second half to beat Tir na nÓg in the Under 19 B Football Championship in dreadful weather conditions at Whitehill on Wednesday evening.
The Randalstown side led by 3-3 to 0-4 at half time and increased that lead to eleven three minutes after half time, but the Con Magees side came back with four goals in the second half to take the game to extra time. The first half of extra time saw them score 1-2 without reply and they held that lead until the end.
The visitors started the game well with two early points through McDonnell and Shea O’Brian and were two clear after eight minutes, but Tir na nÓg came storming back and a Conor Hastings point was followed by goals from Alex ODonnell in the 12th minute and Shane Martin two minutes later. Daniel Emmis McMullan and Caolan Hughes tacked on points before a second goal from Alex O’Donnell had them 3-3 to 0-2 clear after 18 minutes.
Glenravel were in deep trouble but the held the home team scoreless during the last 12 minutes of the first half, while adding two points of their own through Shea O’Brien to close within eight at the interval.
When McMullan got Tir na nÓgs fourth goal three minutes into the second half it appeared to be all over, but playing with the strong breeze at their backs the Glenravel side fought back with four goals between the 34th and 53rd minute, the first from Daire Higgins and the next three from Peadar McDonnell, while Callagh Mooney and McDonnell added point. When Conor Hastings and Shea McAuley sent over points just after the end of the third quarter Tir na nOg were four clear, but McDonnell and Mooney hit the scores that brought the game to extra time.
As things turned out it was all Glenravel in extra time and points from Comac McKeown and Shea O’Brien, plus a goal from Daire Higgins had them five clear after the first period of ten minutes. Conor Hastings came back with two points in the second period but another from McKeown saw Con Magees safely home.
