Antrim Hurling League – Division 2
Carey Faughs 2-16 Glenarm Shane O’Neill’s 1-12
Carey moved to the top of the Division 2 Hurling League table when they beat Glenarm on Wednesday evening at cold and windy Ballyvoy and in doing so avenged the defeat they suffered just three days ago in the reverse fixture just three days ago.
Leading by a point at half time Carey really got on top after the change of ends and with the diagonal wind in their favour they hit 1-04 without reply at the start of the second half to move eight points clear of the visitors, and though the Glenarm men came back with a goal entering the last ten minutes the Faughs were able to hold them at arms’ length and were good value for the victory. The win moves them level on points with their opponents on 18 points, but ahead on score difference, but both sides are just two ahead of St Paul’s who play both Carey and Glenarm in the next week in what should be an exciting run-in.
The first half was evenly matched with both team’s struggling in the windy and cold conditions. Carey got the upper hand when man of the match Conor McBride got the game’s first goal on eight minutes with a brilliant strike from a penalty. In truth the home team could well have had a couple more majors had it not been for a series of great saves by ‘Dunga’ Abram in the Glenarm goal, but some excellent score taking from Conor McBride for the home side and Niall McGarel for the visitors left just a point between the sides by half time. 1-5 to 0-7
Carey’s strong start to the second half saw them open a gap as one from play by McBride and two from James Black frees pushed the gap out to four by the fourth minute…. and when midfielder Calum Kane got in for the Faughs second goal a minute later it was going to be a long way back or the Shane O’Neill’s men.
The gap was out to eight as Glenarm struggled to get any flow in their game and though Sean O’Boyle managed to pull a point back with their first score of the second half, the home team came back with another McBride strike at the other end.
The Faughs then had a man sent off following a second yellow card but it did not really deter them as McBride gave an exhibition of scoring from both frees and from play. There was some hope for the Feystown men when Dylan McLaughlin got in for a goal from play but that was as close as they would get and Carey held on for a deserved win.
Some bad news for the winners was an injury to half back stalwart James McCouaig, who was making his first appearance following a prolonged spell out through injury. He appeared to go over on his ankle and will be undoubtedly miss the final league game with St Paul’s, but the Faughs will then have a spell off in the lead up to their championship opener.
These two will meet back at Barnish in the second round of the Intermediate Championship campaign in what promises to be a very interesting contest, so hurling fans have lots to look forward to in the coming weeks.
For more pics from this game click on the link below
https://myalbum.com/album/RrSBRVZExeXREa/?invite=a58053e3-b42a-493d-af2a-cfc9a22d59ce