Above – The Loughgiel team and some of their young fans celebrate with the Feis Cup after their extra time win over Dunloy. Included is the most famous trophy in north Antrim, the Shield of the Heroes, which was presented at the first Feis final in 1904 – 120 years ago
Feis Cup Senior Hurling Final
Loughgiel 4-25 Dunloy 2-26
Sunday 14 July
Brendan McTaggart reports from Feis Sunday at Glenariffe
Coming into the Sunday showpiece, no-one was really sure in what to expect. What we got was an exhibition of hurling despite both Loughgiel and Dunloy missing a host of regulars. It took extra time to separate the sides but, in the end, it was the Shamrocks who had that little bit extra with five between the sides.
The Shamrocks had 11 different scorers and those who came off the bench contributed 2-4 – Conor O’Mullan with a brace of goals while Shan McGrath’s exploits on the edge of the square saw him finish with an impressive 1-8 with just four frees in that tally. Eoin ‘Snowy’ McGarry was the other goal scorer for the Shamrocks while the midfield pairing of Cahal Hargan and man of the match, Christy McGarry split six points evenly.
The Cuchullains had 10 different scorers with Seaan Elliott topping their scoring charts. He would finish with eight points beside his name while Barry Scott followed closely behind with 1-4 in what his best performance in a senior Dunloy shirt was. Eoin O’Neill followed his exploits against Cushendall on Wednesday night by scoring the Cuchullains second major while Aodhan McGarry and Aaron Crawford split six points evenly.
With plenty there to watch the final in warm conditions, Dunloy got off to a great start and led by three points after the opening 10 minutes and looked to be playing with more cohesion. They had the first glimpse of goal but Elliott’s shot just flashed wide.
The first major came in the 18th minute and it was a piece of brilliance from Eoin McGarry. How he found the top corner from the position he was in, only he can answer that one. It kickstarted the Shamrocks as the sides went score for score in the time that remained of the half. Loughgiel had another glimpse of Gabriel McTaggart’s goal when McGrath found Rian McMullan in space but his shot was saved superbly by the Dunloy ‘keeper.
With the sides tied 0-12 to 1-9 at half time, the Cuchullains could have felt slightly aggrieved given how the first 30 minutes transpired. Loughgiel took the lead for the first time in the game with Maol Connolly firing over in the opening seconds of the second half but it was short lived with Dunloy breaching the Loughgiel goal line. Anton McGrath finding Deaglan Smith in space and while his initial shot was saved superbly by Chrissy O’Connell, Eoin O’Neill was first to the loose ball and pulled first time.
They had another chance moments later when Elliott broke free from midfield but O’Connell was equal to the ferocious shot fired his way.
Louhghgiel were slow in starting the second half, much like the first half but a Christy McGarry pointed side line ignited their challenge. The Cuchullains had another goal chance and again, it was Elliott rampaging from midfield but his effort flashed just wide when it looked destined for the top corner from distance.
With one point between the sides after 10 minutes of the second half, Loughgiel found the back of the Dunloy net through Shan McGrath. Reading the high ball sent towards the danger area, McGrath collected and with the most delicate of finishes, gave McTaggart no chance despite the Dunloy ‘keeper narrowing the angle.
With eight minutes of the hour remaining, Loughgiel held a four point lead with Pearce Patterson having an entertaining cameo off the bench. Dunloy would find another gear however as they outscored Loughgiel five points to one in the time that remained. McGrath with the score for Loughgiel while Oran Quinn, Aaron Crawford, O’Neill, Aodhan McGarry and Scott with the equaliser in the third minute of injury time and with what was the last puck of the hour.
FT score: Dunloy 1-21 Loughgiel 2-18
Again, Dunloy got off to the brighter start with Elliott firing over a brace of points (one free) in the opening exchanges of extra time but Loughgiel’s response was effectively match winning. They scored 1-4 without reply, Conor O’Mullan with the first of his two majors and scores coming from Pearce Patterson, Ronan Fitzgerald, Eoin McGarry and Shan McGrath to leave the Shamrocks ahead 3-22 to 1-23 at the half time mark of injury time.
It looked like a tall order for the Cuchullains to drag themselves back into this one but with Barry Scott scoring their second major to leave three between the sides, their Feis hopes rekindled once more. Scott firing home the rebound after a super save initially from O’Connell to deny O’Neill. A point from Eoin McFerran left the minimum between the sides midway through the second period of extra time but Loughgiel’s fourth major, O’Mullan’s second put them in pole position once more. It came at the end of a precise and lightning passing move that saw O’Mullan in space and he made no mistake.
Dunloy continued to look for the goals that would bring them back in the game with an array of high ball and dipping frees but the Shamrocks were not to be denied as they held out to take the Feis honours with five to spare.
TEAMS
Loughgiel: Chrissy O’Connell; Tiernan Coyle, Rory McCloskey, Caolan Blair; Conal McCloskey, Seamus Dobbin, Conor Dickson; Cahal Hargan, Christy McGarry; Paul Boyle, Darragh Patterson, Maol Connolly; Eoin McGarry, Shan McGrath, Rian McMullan
Scorers: S McGrath 1-8 (4fs); Conor O’Mullan 2-00; E McGarry 1-2; C Hargan 0-3; C McGarry 0-3 (1f 1’65); M Connolly 0-2; R McMullan 0-2; Pearce Patterson 0-2; D Patterson 0-1; Ronan Fitzgerald 0-1; Ronan McGarry 0-1
Dunloy: Gabriel McTaggart; Eamon Smyth, Conor McKinley, Oran Quinn; Ronan Molloy, Kevin Molloy, Kevin McKeague; Seaan Elliott, Aaron Crawford; Eoin McFerran, Aodhan McGarry, Barry Scott; Eoin O’Neill, Deaglan Smith, Anton McGrath
Scorers: S Elliott 0-8 (5 fs); B Scott 1-4; E O’Neill 1-2; A McGarry 0-3; A Crawford 0-3; D Smith 0-2; O Quinn 0-1; R Molloy 0-1; E McFerran 0-1; A McGrath 0-1
Referee: Shane McDonnell (Glenariffe)
For more of Michael Corcoran’s pics from the Feis Cup final click on the link below
https://myalbum.com/album/W3De9TYtYZv8oq/?invite=daa79a7b-66a8-4d5d-a820-e939406e785b