Intermediate Hurling Championship–Group 2– Round 1

Tir na nÓg 8-14 Con Magees 1-12

Tir na nÓg scored a runaway win over Con Magees Glenravel in Sunday’s IHC Group 2 game at Whitehill and sounded a warning that they will be one of the teams to look out for in this year’s campaign. The Glenravel side started quite promisingly and were three points to the good in the early stages, but once the Randalstown boys found their range there was no stopping them as they ending up rattling the Glenravel net on eight occasions, something that will do their score difference no harm at all.

Points from Declan McAuley, Conleth O’Loan and Cormac McKeown got the visitors off to a promising start but the home team were soon into their stride and three points from corner forward Ciaran Logan, and one from Ciaran McKeown had Tir na nÓg in front by the ninth minute. Eamon Og McAllister added a point to put them two clear before full forward Pearse Sheering got the first goal nearing the end of the first quarter.

Conleth O’Loan pulled one back for Glenravel from a free and second later the ball was over the bar again after Declan McAuley caught the puc-out and found Ciaran Laverty, who put Cormac McKeown in for another point.

Tir na nÓg came back strongly with points from Ciaran Logan and Daniel Martin before Eamon Og McAllister got his team’s second goal as they pushed on to lead by 2-09 to 0-07 at half time.

Con Magees got the first point of the second half through Declan McAuley but Randalstown were starting to the open gap and Josh Higgins fired in their third goal a minute later. Declan Traynor lifted the Glenravel spirits when he grabbed a goal on 37 minutes but it was all downhill from there on for the visitors as Tir na nÓg came back with two points in a minute from Eamon Og McAllister and Ciaran Logan, which were followed soon afterwards by goal number four, Pearse Sheerin finding the net for the second time.

Things got even worse for the visitors when they were reduced to fourteen men after their goalkeeper received a red card, though they did manage to pull a couple of points back through Cormac McKeown. Goal number six came from midfielder Ciaran McKeown, while seven and eight followed soon afterwards from the rampant blues who will fancy their chances of a semi-final spot even at this early stage.  

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