Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Carey Faughs 2-12 Tir na nÓg 1-16

Second half substitute Sean Duffin played a major role in Tir na nÓg’s win over Carey Faughs in Sunday’s Division 2 Hurling League game in Ballyvoy, getting his team over the line by a single point, deep into added time. Carey led the game by three points at half time and appeared to have the upper hand for most of the game, but the half time  introduction of Duffin (who had spent the last number of months in Australia) saw the visitors get themselves back into the game, and eventually over the line as he hit the last three points.

In a low scoring first half both teams struggled to hit the target, but with Conor McBride hitting three from frees and new signing Eoin ‘Frein’ Laverty netting from a penalty they went in at the break with a 1-5 to 0-5 half time lead, full forward Kevin Sheerin getting three of the visitors points and Eamon Og McAllister the other two.

Sean Duffin’s introduction at half time saw him involved right away but his radar was off in the early stages as he missed a couple of long range frees. Eoin Lavry increased the Carey lead to four and with James Rocket Black playing as an extra half back the home team appeared to have a bit of control. However the scoring began to dry up for the home side and when Conor McBride had to retire through injury they found scores harder to come by.

A series of good scores from the visitors saw them close the gap, and when Declan Mallon drilled a ball to the Carey net on 47 minutes, the gap was down to a single point.

Carey got a favourable break when a high ball from centre back James McCouaig deceived the visitors’ goalkeeper and ended in the back of the net. The home team were four clear with 11 minutes of normal time to play, but Duffin, who had played for Tyrone the previous day, was starting to dominate his area and four of the last five points, the last of them coming seven minutes into injury time, to get the Randalstown men home by the narrowest of margins