Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament Cup Final
Glenariffe/Glenravel 2-6 Erin’s Own, Lavey 0-6
Tuesday 31 December 2024
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc an Déin Mhíc Loinsaigh, Baile na Scrine
The last piece of silverware of the 2024 season comes back to the Saffron county. Glenariffe/Glenravel won the Ulster minor hurling tournament at a wind and rain swept Ballinascreen on Tuesday afternoon but they were pushed to the pin of their collar by a Lavey side who will rue their missed chances.
Six points separated the sides at the end of the hour, a very harsh reflection and one that doesn’t do the Derry side any favours but in a game where Glenariffe/Glenravel led for the majority, the Antrim champions had an element of score board control in a frenetic last quarter.
Incredibly, the only score in that last 15 minutes was the game winning goal from Oisin Gillan and that came with the last action of the final. Prior to that, it was backs to the wall defending from Glenariffe/Glenravel as they looked to repel an onslaught of Lavey attacks. They defended superbly however with Colla Ward, John Scullion and man of the match Niall Magee all superb.
Despite losing the toss, Glenariffe/Glenravel had the aid of a substantial wind at their back for the opening half. Despite this, it was James Sargent who opened the scoring from a fifth minute free. It was a gruelling opening quarter where no quarter was asked nor given. The contest certainly wasn’t one for the faint of heart with bodies being put on the line and challenges coming thick and fast.
By the midway point of the first half, Glenariffe/Glenravel had taken the lead thanks to a brace of frees from Orrin O’Connor either side of Phelim Ward’s pointed effort in the ninth minute – the first score of the game from open play.
Glenariffe/Glenravel were piling on pressure, looking to make their wind advantage count but the Derry champions were winning the majority of ruck ball and nullifying the attacking threats of Glenariffe/Glenravel with Tiarnan Melaugh and Ryan McGarvey prominent.
Any Lavey attacks were scarce and with points coming from Harry Fyfe and Oisin Gillan, Glenariffe/Glenravel built a four point lead with 12 minutes of the half remaining.
The opening goal of the game came moments later and came through the genius of O’Connor. Collecting a direct pass from Canice McIntosh, O’Connor took on the Lavey defence looking to get clear. The Lavey support and management questioned the number of steps the Glenariffe/Glenravel man took but what couldn’t be questioned was the finish. O’Connor’s effort was emphatic and gave Oisin Mulholland no chance between the sticks.
It would be their last score of the first half though as Lavey finished strongly. A brilliant catch and strike from Conor Melaugh reduced the Glenariffe/Glenravel led to six points with eight minutes of the half remaining. The Derry champions missed a couple of frees before Conor Melaugh split the uprights in the third minute of injury time in what was the last action of the half to leave the half time score 1-5 to 0-3 in favour of Glenariffe/Glenravel.
Five points certainly wasn’t a comfortable lead for the Antrim champions given the elements they would be facing after the restart. It was going to take a monumental effort to ensure they were on the right side of the result by the final whistle and they delivered thanks to some brilliant defending and poor decision making or inaccuracy from Lavey.
A Rian Collins free opened the scoring in the second half while Gillan had a glimpse of the Lavey goal. The young Glenariffe/Glenravel speedster was denied by a brilliant piece of defending from Rory Scullion.
With the game being quite broken and both sides doing what they could to gain any sort of advantage, it wasn’t the easiest game to officiate. The middle third resembled a game of rugby given the amount of rucks that evolved and scoring chances were at a premium but any that came were falling the way of Lavey.
A James Sargent free from deep in his own half was followed by a Phelim Ward point (free). That would be Glenariffe/Glenravel’s last score for almost 20 minutes however as Lavey turned the screw.
Rian Collins split the uprights from a placed ball in the 44th minute to leave a goal between the sides but that was the Derry men’s last score of the final. Chances came for both goals and further points but a serious of missed opportunities in that final quarter will haunt Lavey players and management.
With four minutes of the hour remaining, Gillan added more shine to the scoreline for Glenariffe/Glenravel. Substitute Michael Furey had got a half yard of space but his effort was partially blocked and Gillan was first to the breaking sliotar and fired to the back of the Lavey net and seal the Ulster title for his side.
It was an hour or more of hurling where Glenariffe/Glenravel showed an incredible amount of character, heart and desire. They have shown their talents with the hurl and sliotar to get this far and they answered more questions than many might have been expecting in this final. The future is bright for hurling in Glenariffe/Glenravel!
TEAMS:
Glenariffe/Glenravel: Ben Duncan; Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Harry Fyfe; James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort; Callum McIlwaine, John Scullion; Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christy Leech; Peader McDonnell, Phelim Ward, Oisin Gillan
Subs: Michael Furey for P McDonnell (HT)
Scorers: O O’Connor 1-2 (2f’s); O Gillan 1-1; P Ward 0-2 (1f); H Fyfe 0-1
Erin’s Own, Lavey: Oisin Mulholland; Rory Scullion, Tiarnan Melaugh, Eoin O’Donnell; Cathal Mulholland, Ryan McGarvey, Ronan Birt; James Sargent, Conor Melaugh; Patrick Birt, Rian Collins, Charlie Mulholland; Lorcan McDonnell, Jack Convery, Ruadhri Melaugh
Subs: Conor Sargent for C Mulhollan (15); Donnacha Collins for R Melaugh (38); Dara O’Kane for L McDonnell (44)
Scorers: C Melaugh 0-2; J Sargent 0-2 (2fs); R Collins 0-2 (2fs)
Referee: James Connors (Donegal)
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