Conor McGurk Cup quarter-final
Ulster University 1-13 Antrim 3-13
Antrim Under 20 Hurlers turned a five point half time deficit into a six point win at Jordanstown on Saturday when the fought back to beat the students in the quarter final of the McGurk Cup.
Things did not look too promising when UU dominated the first ten minutes of the game, hitting five unanswered points Padraig Doran (2), Feargal McKiernan Conal Shannon and Ryan Mort all hit the target all found the target with well taken points.
Antrim hadn’t even registered a wide, let alone a score, by this stage, but once Criostaí McAuley got their first score from a long range free they began to settle. As the confidence began to grow Darragh Patterson added two and Diarmuid Rogan got one to cut the gap back to a single point, and when Criostaí McAuley got a scambled goal soon afterwards they were in front for the first time.
After such a bright start the students appeared to have lost their way badly, but they found their form again and a few good points from Lorcan Donnelly and a scrambled goal saw them go in at the break with a 1-9 to 1-4 lead.
Two quick goals at the start of the second half from McGarry and McGarrel, and a well taken point by Aodhan McGarry, saw them regain the lead. Their fightback might well have been derailed when they had a player sent off, but they still held the upper hand and a series of well taken points from Criostaí McAuley (2) Diarmuid Rogan and McGarel gave them a bit of breathing space. Jordanstown kept in touch as Donnelly and Rice sent over points. However the young Saffrons always had the upper hand and McAuley and Darragh Donnelly added later points to see them book a place in Tuesday evening’s semi-final against Down
UU: J Morgan; T Scally, D McCloskey, P Heavin; C McAllister, F Devlin, J Scallon; C Shannon (0-1), M McClean; R Mort (0-1), P Doran (0-3, all frees), L Donnelly (0-5, all frees); K Curran (1-0), F McKiernan (0-2), D Mooney.
Subs: L Phillips for R Mort (HT), A McCurridh for C Shannon (49), M Rice (0-1) for J Scallon (49), E McBrearty for P Heavin (51), J Close for L Donnelly (64).
ANTRIM: E Richmond; M McGibbin, C Dickson, M Darragh; L Walsh, D McMullan (0-1), R McCormick; D Rogan (0-2), T McFerran; A McGarry (0-1), C McAuley (2-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), D Patterson (0-2); E McGarry, R Eager, N McGarel (1-2).
Subs: L Glackin for L Walsh (HT), B O’Connor for E McGarry (HT), C Baudant for M Darragh (HT), R Fitzgerald for T McFerran (51), D Kelly (0-1) for D Rogan (54), R McGarry for R Eager (64), P McIlwaine for A McGarry (65)
REFEREE: Tarlach Conway (Derry)
