Antrim Under 19 Hurling Championship Semi Final

Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle 1.15 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0.17

The home crowd held their breath as the final play of this eagerly contested U19 Semi Final saw Ronan McCollam’s shot on goal drift high and over the bar, and sighs of relief and celebrations came as the ref blew time. Loughgiel had heaped on huge pressure on the McQuillan’s defence in the final 10 minutes going in search of the winner, Roan McGarry being denied by the brilliant Anthony Mullan in nets who had also saved Jack McCloskey’s shot minutes earlier, but the town held on for a one point win.

McQuillan’s would have rued the many missed opportunities they had created in the  first half putting 11 wides. It was the ‘Town’ who made the better start with a point in the first minute from James Bakewell, followed closely by the first of Criostai McAuley’s tally of 7 points. Loughgiel got their scoring started after 4 minutes from Tiago McGarry to leave the bare minimum between the teams. Bakewell added another long range point from midfield while Jack McCloskey responded for the Shamrocks. The decisive score in this game came after Orran Donnelly caught a high ball in defence and ripped up the field to lob a high ball which ended up in the back of the net to leave the score at 1.03 to 0.2.

McQuillan’s managed to keep out in front with the half time score at 1.09 to 0.9. In the second half, it was Loughgiel who were clocking up the wides, while at the other end scores from Connor Donnelly 0.3, Darragh Kelly and Captain James Bakewell, Criostai McAuley from placed balls just kept the ‘Town’ ahead. Jack McCloskey was accurate from frees and from play alongside Ronan McCollam, Roan McGarry all pointed for Loughgiel. Conall Magee got the final score for McQuillan’s  to stretch their lead to 2 points going into injury time. With just over 2 minutes to go, Loughgiel piled on the pressure and could have snatched it at the end but the home side battled hard to book their place in the 2023 final.

1. Anthony Mullan
2. Cian Baudant
3. Paddy McAlonan
4. Ardan Kelly
5. James Bakewell (Captain)
6. Orran Donnelly
7. Jack Colgan
8. Darragh Kelly
9. Conal Magee
10. Niall McClean
11. Tiernan Heggarty
12. Conor Donnelly
13. Cathair Donnelly
14. Criostaí McAuley
15. Gavin McToal
16. Cormac Dallas
17. Aidan Hamilton
18. Fionnn Mullan
19. Eddie McCaughan
20. Angus Killough
21. Connor Mooney