Under 21 Hurling Championship – quarter final
Dunloy 2-15 Ballycastle 2-14
An Eoin McFerran goal in the first minute of injury time gave Dunloy victory over Ballycastle in Monday evening’s Under 21 Hurling Championship quarter final at Pearse Park, Dunloy. In a well contested game Ballycastle led at half time by six points. The visitors were still six to the good midway through the second half but Dunloy began to close the gap and with five minutes left to play they had reduced their arrears to a single point. Ballycastle were under pressure but when Criosti McAuley sent over a free to put two between the teams it looked like they were going to hold on, but the home side kept up the pressure and after a goal bound shot was deflected across the Ballycastle goal, it broke kindly for McFerran who kept his cool to fire the ball to the net.
Played in front of a good sized crowd the opening exchanges were evenly contested. Twice Dunloy edged ahead through Aodhan McGarry frees, but the Town replied with well taken points from Conor and Oran Donnelly to draw level and six minutes. Ryan Mort edged Dunloy in front again with a point from play but Oran Donnlly brought Ballycastle level in the 8th minute and a minute later Criosti McAuley put them ahead for the first time with a point from play in the 9th minute.
Dunloy came back strongly with three points in a row through Eoin O’Kane, Jack Martin and Aodhan McGarry to go two in front in the 12th minute. Ballycastle then had their best spell of the game and a well taken goal by Conor Donnelly were followed by a point from the same player and another from a Criosti McGarry free to go a goal clear. Things were looking promising for the visitors but a defensive mistake was punished by Dunloy corner forward Oisin McCallin who reacted well to poke the goal home.
Ballycastle were soon back in front however when Oran Donnelly set up Criosti McAuley to blast home from close range and in the lead -in to half time McAuley added a point from play, as did the Oran and Conor Donnelly, to send Ballycastle in at the interval with a 2-10 to 1-07 lead.
As the rain started to fall at the start of the second half the scoring rate eased off a little as both teams managed just three apiece during the third quarter. With fifteen minutes still to play the gap was still at six, but Dunloy were gaining the upper hand and slowly they edged their way back with four points in a row, two of them from McGarry frees and one apiece from Paudi Martin and Oisin McCallin. When Criosti McGarry put the gap out to two again by the 58th minute it looked like last season’s runners-up would hold on, but McFerran’s injury time goal gave the Cuchullains the win that sets up a semi-final meeting with Rossa next Monday evening.
See the full selection of pics from this game by clicking the link below