Division 1-2 Relegation-Promotion Play-Off
Shane O’Neill’s 2-17 Ballycran 2-21
Ballycran and Glenarm served up a superb hours hurling in this Division 1-2 Relegation-Promotion play-off at Dunsilly on Wednesday night with the Down men retaining their division 1 status for next season.
They were pushed to the pin of their collar however by a Shane O’Neill’s side who were playing division 3 and Junior Championship hurling only two years ago and were still in contention for Division 2 honours going into the final game of their league campaign before being piped by Carey Faughs.
The men from the Ards peninsula found themselves in danger of relegation from Division 1 following a league campaign where they were forced to field without their county players but with these men back in harness they were expected to deal comfortably with the men from Feystown.
That notion was quickly dispelled when Glenarm raced into an early two point lead through Niall McGarel and Ciaran Magill by the third minute though Ballycran might well have taken the lead themselves but Christopher Egan struck an upright after 20 seconds.
The Ards men were back on level terms by the 5th minute as Scott Nicholson and Conor Woods split the posts but Shane O’Neill’s were growing in confidence and Conal Ward pointed them ahead once more.
Paul Sheehan drew the side’s level for the second time and Ciaran Magill set up Michael Furey for the game’s opening goal before Egan replied with a point at the other end as the intensity of the exchanges increased.
The Down men might have been back on terms but Michael Abram pulled off a fine save to deny Egan before McGarel edged the North Antrim men three ahead after 12 minutes.
Ciaran Magill added a point to move his side four in front and at this stage a minor upset looked on the cards but Ballycran hit back with a goal from Ayrton Gleeson after an astute hand pass from Christopher Egan.
The Ards side hit a purple patch with Conor Woods 0-2 and Christopher Egan adding points before Steven Gilliland followed up to finish to the net from close range after Michael Abram had denied Niall Breen.
It was the men from Feystown who would finish the half on the front foot as Dylan McLaughlin, Darren Hamill and Niall McGarel 0-2 closed the gap to two at the short whistle.
Glenarm might well have taken the lead in the opening stages of the second half but Kieth in the Ballycran goals brought off a good save to deny McGarel in the opening minute with Michael Furey denied in the follow up at the expense of a ‘65’.
McGarel was off target from the resulting award but Darren Hamill followed from a great long range effort to reduce the deficit to two once more.
Ballycran looked to be taking control when they hit four unanswered points through Steven Gilliland, Conor Woods, Ethan Bell and a Paul Sheehan free before Hamill interrupted the run with a point for the Feystown side.
It provided only temporary respite however with Ballycran replying through Scott Nicholson, Niall Breen and Paul Sheehan to move 8 clear by the 12th minute and the game seemed to be slipping away from the division 2 men but they quite simply refused to roll over.
Dylan McLaughlin instigated another comeback with two excellent points and McGarel pointed a 20 meter free before Ciaran O’Boyle got in for a goal in the 21st minute to cut the deficit to two.
Substitute David Gilliland moved Ballycran three ahead once more and Sean O’Boyle and Dylan McLaughlin for the Antrim side and Woods, direct from a sideline cut and Sheehan from a 60 meter free exchanged further scores as the excitement continued to rise.
Niall McGarel from a a ‘65’ closed the gap to two once more and it still looked anyone’s game but it would be the county Down side who finished the stronger as Paul Sheehan and Christopher Egan added unanswered points in injury time to see them secure their place in the top grade for another season.
Glenarm will be disappointed at the final result but can take great heart from their performance over the hour and will surely be strong contenders in the forthcoming Intermediate championship.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Joshua Quinn, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 JKohn Scullion, 5 Aidan Scullion, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Declan McDermott, 8 Kieran O’Boyle, 9 Daniel Black, 10 Dylan McLaughlin, 11 Ciaran Magill, 21 Michael Furey, 13 Conal Ward, 14 Niall McGarel, 15 Sean O’Boyle.
Ballycran: 1 Stephen Kieth, 2 Brad Watson, 3 Cormac McAlister, 4 Aaron Dorrian, 5 Brett Nicholson, 6 Sean Ennis, 7 Michael Hughes, 8 Scott Nicholson, 9 Ethan Bell, 10 Niall Breen, 11 Conor Woods, 12 Paul Sheehan, 13 Steven Gilliland, 14 Ayrton Gleeson, 15 Christopher Egan
Referee: Tarlach Conway
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