Antrim Hurling League – Division 3

Glenravel 1-19   All Saints 0-08

The threatened storms remained silent as Glenravel ran out easy enough winners in this evening throw-in in Fr Maginn Park. Ahead at the break 1-10 to 0-04 despite an excellent penalty save by Ballymena’s keeper Ciaran Cassley the men in green and white went on to win with a fairly comfortable margin. 

Ballymena opened the scoring through Darach Bradley from a free two minutes into the game; indeed Bradley would prove to be All Saints main scorer of the evening with a total of six points to his name, five from placed balls. But by the fourth minute Sean McKay and Conor Laverty had nudged Glenravel into a slender lead however they were pegged back level when Joseph O’Rawe finished off a nice move with a point.  Glenravel were starting to dominate the puck outs and make good use of the subsequent possession. By the tenth minute Cormac McKeown, Declan Traynor and Sean McKay had given the home side a 0-05 to 0-02 lead, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish to the end of the game. Darach Bradley brought it to a two point game but Glenravel switched up a gear in the second quarter to add 1-03 to the scoreline, the goal coming from Cormac McKeown and it was in that quarter keeper Cassley saved the penalty or his side would have been further behind. In the closing minutes Bradley pointed again for the visitors but the ever dependable duo of McKeown and McKay helped Con Magees to a 1-10  to 0-04 half time lead. 

Adam McAuley had been introduced as replacement to Conor Duffin who shifted a heavy tackle and was forced off. We wish Conor a speedy recovery. In the opening seconds of the half McAuley tore through the Ballymena defence on the right hand side and pointed form a tight angle. Conleth O’Loan went on to score Glenravel’s next three points, all from play. All Saints fought back with three scores all from frees with Bradley providing two and  Eoin McGuigan the other. Sean McKay and Bradley exchanged points to bring the scoreline to 1-15 to 0-08 with six minutes left on the clock. At this point the destiny of the points was decided but Glenravel would go on to tag another four points to leave them comfortable winners 1-19 to 0-08.

Both sides are at home in their next outing with Glenravel hosting Creggan and All Saints face a tough encounter against league leaders Bredagh. Both games throw in at 2pm on Sunday, May 12th. 

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