Antrim Minor Hurling Championship Final
Glenariffe/Glenravel 3-16 Dunloy 1-12
Sunday 29 September
Brendan McTaggart reports from Armoy
An inspired performance from Orrin O’Connor helped Glenariffe/Glenravel to the minor championship crown on Sunday afternoon. O’Connor would finish the match with 3-7 beside his name in a performance for the ages as the Oisin’s attacking unit had the Cuchullains chasing shadows. While O’Connor will rightly grab the headlines for his scoring, he had plenty of support with Phelim Ward and Peadar McDonnell also excellent while Niall Magee was outstanding at the heart of a defence that yielded very little to Dunloy.
With the wind at their back for the second 30 minutes, the Cuchullains looked to eat into the 11 point advantage Glenariffe/Glenravel had racked up but they never really looked like making inroads and testing the metal of the Oisin’s. Ben Duncan was solid between the sticks when he was called upon while Cahir McNaughton had the knack of being in the right place at the right time on a couple of occasions when the Cuchullains threatened to score goals.
Electing to play with the wind, Glenariffe/Glenravel led by three points after seven minutes. The attacking trio of O’Connor, Ward and McDonnell all finding their range. That lead was reduced to the minimum with Luke McFerran and Oisin McCallin splitting the uprights. It would be Dunloy’s last score for 16 minutes though as the Oisin’s turned the screw. By the time Oisin McCamphill fired over for Dunloy’s third point in the 25th minute, Glenariffe/Glenravel had raced into an eight point lead. O’Connor, Oisin Gillan, Christopher Leech and Michael Furrey all adding scores as Glenariffe/Glenravel went through the gears.
The Oisin’s thought they had scored the opening goal of the final when John Scullion bundled the sliotar into the back of the net but he was judged to have over carried in the build up. They would have another sight of goal with the next attack, McDonnell’s effort flashing over before they would find the back of the Dunloy net in the 29th minute. Standing over a free fully 80 yards out on the angle, O’Connor’s effort dipped wickedly and as the Dunloy defence misjudged the flight, Caolan McFerran couldn’t get to the sliotar as it bounced into the net.
Paudie Martin (free) and Leech swapped scores as the clock ticked into first half injury time and the Cuchullains created a major chance of their own. Working a quick free into the path of Paudie Martin and he showed plenty of guile to get the half yard he needed. He struck his shot well but it went to the wrong side of the post and wide.
Half time: Glenariffe/Glenravel 1-12 Dunloy 0-4
While they had the wind at their backs for the second half, it was going to take a monumental effort for the Cuchullains to get back into this one. That 11 point deficit became 12 with O’Connor’s fifth point of the match and while Dunloy were playing with more attacking intensity, their accuracy was letting them down. Paudie Martin did fire over a brace of points from placed ball while Ben O’Kane follow suit after an O’Connor free to leave nine between the sides going into the final quarter.
Martin fired over his third free of the half before Dunloy had another sniff of goal. Aidan Richmond looked like he had found the bottom corner only for Cahir McNaughton to deny him.
Phelim Ward fired over a brilliant score for Glenariffe/Glenravel before they scored their second and match winning goal. A long ball was delivered to the edge of the square with the Dunloy defence caught, Ward pounced and scrambled the sliotar over the line. The Cuchullains claimed for a square ball infringement but the goal stood to take the Oisin’s lead to 12.
The Cuchullains went looking for goals with Paudie Martin going close but his effort was superbly saved by Ben Duncan but the Oisin’s keeper could do little with the next effort that came his way. O’Kane stood over a ’65 that he hit with a flat trajectory and with plenty on it, the sliotar took a deflection and managed to get into the back of the Oisin’s net to give Dunloy hope. When Paudie Martin fired over a brace (one free), the lead was reduced to seven with two minutes of the hour left.
Glenariffe/Glenravel wouldn’t be denied however and fittingly, it was O’Connor who would have the championship sealing score. Gathering the sliotar and with a wall of Dunloy defenders in front of him, O’Connor stole in behind and fired low to give McFerran no chance between the sticks for Dunloy.
Luke McFerran and O’Connor (free) would trade scores in injury time and McCamphill was denied a goal with McNaughton in the right place once again but it was all elementary at that stage. Glenariffe/Glenravel were worthy winners and look forward to a tilt at the Ulster championship in Ballinascreen.
TEAMS
Glenariffe/Glenravel: Benjamin Duncan; Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Michael Furrey; James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort; Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion; Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christopher Leech; Oisin Gillan, Peadar McDonnell, Phelim Ward
Scorers: O O’Connor 3-7 (1-6f); P Ward 1-2; C Leech 0-2; O Gillan 0-2; P McDonnell 0-2; M Furrey 0-1
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 McCallion, Oisin McCamphill, Paudie Martin
Scorers: P Martin 0-6 (4fs 1’65); B O’Kane 1-2 (1-2f); L McFerran 0-2; O McCallion 0-1; O McCamphill 0-1
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
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