Antrim Minor Hurling Championship final

12 noon at Glen Rovers Armoy

Sunday 29- September

Reigning Minor Hurling Champions Dunloy Cuchullains bid to make it back to back titles when they take on Glenariffe-Glenravel in Sunday’s final in Armoy.

Dunloy’s Caolan McFerran and Paudie Martin

Dunloy were very impressive when beating Cushendall in their semi-final two weeks ago, getting away from the Ruairis in the second half after a fantastic high scoring opening thirty minutes. The young Cuchullains had a team full of stars but corner forward Paudie Martin was the stand out man, scoring 3-08 over the hour, and only two points of that total from frees, a truly remarkable achievement. Not far behind him the in the honours list was goalkeeper Caolan McFerran, who pulled off a series of remarkable saves to keep the Ruairis at bay, especially during the first half.  There are a long list of others of course like Ben O’Kane and Reece Cunning in defence, and the two Oisins, McCallin and McCamphill up front.

Glenariffe-Glenravel had an easier semi-final where they beat Rossa with a bit to spare, but they beat Loughgiel in the semi-final and have had a good league campaign, finishing in second place, just two points behind the Cuchullains. There is a wealth of talent in the squad with four of the team Niall Magee, Calum McIlwaine, Orrin O’Connor and Phelim Ward regular starters in the club’s senior team who face Tir na Nóg in the Intermediate Championship semi-final next weekend.

This promises to be a great game of hurling between two very good teams. Dunloy will understandably start as favourites, and deservedly so, but if Glenariffe-Glenravel can make a steady start it could be closer than many people think.

Glenariffe-Glenravel’s Phelim Ward and Orrin O’Conor

The Dunloy and Glenariffe-Glenravel starting line-ups from the semi-final were

DUNLOY:

Caolan McFerran; Cahir McMullan, Sean Og Blaney, Charlie Cunning; Reece Cunning, Ben O’Kane, Jack McKeever; Ryan McClements, Jack Martin; Donnach Laverty, Luke McFerran, Aidan Richmond; Oisin McCallin, Oisin McCamphill, Padraig Martin

GLENARIFFE-GLENRAVEL

Ben Duncan, Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Michael Furey, James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort, Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion, Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christoper Leach, Oisin Gillen, Phelim Ward, Joe McKay