Antrim Minor B Hurling Championship Final
Naomh Padraig (North Antrim) 3-16 St Pauls 2-13
A spirited performance from Naomh Padraig in Ballymena on Sunday afternoon saw them claim their first ever county title in their short 10 year history in an excellent game of hurling.
This Naomh Padraig team included the first set of fellas to have come the whole way through the clubs juvenile structures from primary school level.
There were jubilant scenes at the final whistle when the family and friends from the four parent clubs of Cushendun. Carey, Cloughmills, & Armoy joined their minor hurlers on the field to celebrate.
Naomh Padraig played with the wind in the first half and went in at the break leading on a scoreline Naomh Padraig 2-8 St Pauls 0-7 after first half goals from Donnacha Laverty and Ryan Watson.
St Pauls Sean Mc Larnon and James Mc Donnell had been keeping the Shaws Road men in touch throughout the half and with their strong attacking running and if it hadn’t been for a few excellent point blank saves from
Liam Magee in the Naomh Padraig nets things could have been a lot closer at the short whistle.
The second half saw St Pauls narrow the gap to a single point mid-way through the half after a goal from play by Sean Mc Larnon and then a second goal from the same player from the penalty spot after some robust defending by the Naomh Padraig defence.
It was certainly game on at this stage with both sets of supporters getting behind their teams as every ball became more important than the last as both teams scrambled to get the advantage.
It was high ball into the St Pauls box that broke out to the Naomh Padraig second half substitute Charlie Mc Auley who doubled on it the rattle the net giving his team a 4 point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
The continued accuracy of the Naomh Padraig Captain Calum Kane from frees in those final minutes saw his team push on and secure the first county title for the North Antrim Club.
The majority of this talented group of St Pauls minors will have little time to rest as they also contest this weekends Minor A Football Final v St Brigids, proof of the large amount of coaching work ongoing at juvenile level within the St Pauls club.
Naomh Padraig were however worthy winners on the day and with many of these minors now going back next year to play for their parent adult clubs of Armoy, Carey Cushendun & Cloughmills it was a great way to finish off their juvenile careers by lifting the silverware.
Naomh Padraig (North Antrim)
Liam Magee, John Magee, Andrew Mc Garry, Shea Mc Gowan, Charlie Douthart, Adam Hughes, James Mc Neill, Callum Kane (C) , Shea Mc Ginley, Cathair Mc Caughan, Kieran Mc Toal, Callum Magee, Ryan Watson, Ryan Mc Quaid, Donnacha Laverty
Subs Used: Eoin Bailey, Charlie Mc Auley, Corey Quinn, Aran Callan
Scorers: Calum Kane 0-10 (frees), Donnacha Laverty 1-2, Ryan Watson 1-1, Charlie Mc Auley 1-1, Cathair Mc Caughan 0-2
St Pauls
Ciaran O Carroll, Patrick Crawford, Pauric Mc Kevitt, Padraig Mc Donnell, Garrett Cowan (C), Cian Mc Cann, Liam Murray, Miceal Valley, Ewan Mc Greevy, Nathan O Neill, Sean Mc Larnon, James Mc Donnell, Ordhan Donnelly, Darragh Brown, Shea Burns
Subs Used: Osin Mc Greevy, Ciaran Brown, Padraig Keenan
Scorers: Sean Mc Larnon 2-5, James Mc Donnell 0-5, Darragh Brown 0-1, Shea Burns 0-1
Referee: Piarais Mc Caffery (St Galls)
TO SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/M67t4bkbNNE2MV/?invite=98899c6e-52d5-464b-8838-f7d36a7a03df