O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 2
St Gall’s 0-17 Tír na nÓg 0-13
St Gall’s hurlers got their hurling season off to the perfect start at the Bog Meadows on Saturday when they came out on top after a hard fought battle with Tir na nÓg.
Leading for most of the hour St Gall’s were worthy winners against formidable opposition in a game that was entertaining throughout.
With the wind at their backs St Gall’s were on the board early as Ronan Corssan and Mark Napier found the target, but Tir na nÓg came back with a well taken point from Ciaran Logan to trail by just one after ten minutes. Aaron McNeilly sent over a free to bring the Randalstown side back on terms but St Gall’s went back ahead by the end of the opening quarter when Jackson McGreevy sent one over from a placed ball, the first of six for the influential centre back , and gaining a bit of momentum the home side pushed on to lead by 0-8 to 0-3 by the time referee Fiontann McCotter blew the half time whistle.
The five point gap certainly was not unbridgeable for the Whitehill men as they turned to play with the use of the wind, and when Aaron McNeilly closed the gap to four inside the first minute of the new half they must have felt the destiny of the game was in their own hands. The next score was important, even at this early stage, and when Ronan Crossan was quick to reply for St Gall’s it settled them into a rhythm. The teams went score for score for a while with Napier find a reply on two occasions when Tir na nÓg clipped their lead by a point, and when the visitors substitute Niall Devlin and ree take McNeilly got it back to three there must have been great optimism among the travelling fans.
St Gall’s soon settled those nerves however when Jackson McGreevy and Sean McAreavey came back with well taken points to stretch the lead out to five again.
The home side were now in charge, but when a Joshua Higgins point was followed soon afterwards by one from right half forward Logan the gap was down to just three.
With just five minutes of normal time left on the clock the excellent McGreevy settled things down with his sixth pointed free of the day. Logan came back with another for the visitors to keep their hopes alive but man of the match Napier sealed the win with neat point with time almost up to seal and opening day brace of points.
ST GALL’S: K McGreevy; O McIlhatton, E Rush, D Churchill; E Walsh, J McGreevy (0-6f), G McGreevy; F Donnelly, J Hopkins (0-1); P Friel, C Sheehan (0-1), M Donnelly (0-1); R Crossan (0-2), L Morgan, M Napier (0-5, 2f).
Subs: S McAreavey (0-1) for L Morgan (35), A Mullan for G McGreevy (37), G Mac Adhaimh for O McIlhatton (42), N O’Neill for C Sheehan (45)
TÍR NA nÓG: K Sheerin; B McLarnon, C Sheerin, T Martin; C O’Neill, C Duffin, D Martin; J Higgins (0-1), J McCormick; C Logan (0-3, 1f), S McKinley, A McNeilly (0-6f); O McAtamney, P Sheerin, D Martin (0-1).
Subs: N Devlin (0-1) for O McAtamney (35), E Murray for P Sheerin (35), C McCamphill for T Martin (41), D Mallon (0-1) for S McKinley (55).
REFEREE: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfield’s)
