Ulster Hurling U20 Cup

Round 1

Antrim 2-24 Derry 0-6

Saturday 1 February

Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Mac Uílín, Ballycastle

Antrim opened their u20 hurling season with an emphatic win over Derry at a cold and windy Ballycastle.  24 points was the difference by the time referee Barry Winters called time at the end of the hour with the foundations for the victory laid in the first half.

Despite playing against a substantial breeze, Mickey McShane’s side held a 10 point lead at the interval as they played with controlled aggression and precision.  The stats will show the Saffrons scoring 2-12 in the second half with an impressive 2-9 coming from open play and all of the six starting forwards getting on the scoresheet, it was a pleasing afternoon for the Saffrons.

Jospeh McLaughlin top scored for Antrim with eight points before coming off with a quarter of the game remaining while Aodhan McGarry’s contribution of seven white flags tells half the story.  McGarry was influential throughout the hour with ball in hand while his work rate was exemplary.

In defence, the Derry attack rarely troubled the Saffrons throughout and despite winning the toss and electing to play with the wind from the first whistle, the young Oak Leafers registered just two pointed frees in the opening 30 minutes.  Odhran McElhinney and Ruairi Beggs did look threatening at different times but the Saffron defence were immense, Niall Magee, Ben O’Kane, Charlie McAuley and Reece Cunning all excelling of Eoghan Richmond who dealt with everything that might have come his way between the sticks.

While the big score is noticeable, the stick work and precision of the Saffrons was impressive throughout.  The style of play and some of the passages leading to scores was excellent, particularly in the second half where it would have been easy to lump the ball long with the wind advantage, if the Saffrons did go long it was more by design and part of the plan.

Goal chances were in scarce supply in the first half but Joseph McLaughlin went close with the first attack but was denied thanks to a last gasp block from Ronan McNamee while Orrin O’Connor brought the best out of Derry ‘keeper, Tom Russel.

Both majors came in the opening 15 minutes of the second half with Orrin O’Connor and substitute Padraig Martin finding the back of Tom Russell’s goals.  O’Connor’s goal coming as a result of some excellent work from Cormac McKeown and while it initially looked like O’Connor had missed the chance, he somehow managed to squeeze the sliotar over the line.

Paudie Martin was barely on the pitch two minutes by the time he added Antrim’s second.  Combining with fellow substitute Oisin McCallin, Martin’s touch was on point while he showed his predatory instincts when presented with the chance.

The young Saffrons are on their travels for the next match as they make the journey down the Ards Penninsula for their second round robin game but given the manner of this victory, they have more than one foot in the Ulster final in four weeks time.

TEAMS

Antrim: Eoghan Richmond; Callagh Mooney, Sean Og Blaney, Reece Cunning; Charlie McAuley, Ben O’Kane, Niall Magee; Oran Donnelly, Calum McIlwaine; Ronan Fitzgerald, Aodhan McGarry, Thomas McLaughlin; Cormac McKeown, Joseph McLaughlin, Orrin O’Connor

Subs: Oisin McCallion for C McKeown (43); Padraig Martin for J McLaughlin (43); Ronan McGarry for O O’Connor (43); Fiontan Bradley for R Fitzgerald (47); Cian O’Connor for B O’Kane (52)

Scorers: J McLaughlin 0-8 (6fs); A McGarry 0-7 (2fs); P Martin 1-1; C McKeown 0-3; O O’Connor 1-00; T McLaughlin 0-2; R Fitzgerald 0-1; N Magee 0-1; C McAuley 0-1

Derry: Tom Russell; Deaglan McNamee, Tiarnan Melaugh, John McGurk; Oisin O’Kane, Ronan McNamee, Cathal Ó Mianáin; James McDaid, Conor Coyle; Charlie Curley, Connor Melaugh, Shea McLaughlin; Ruairi Beggs, Odhran McElhinney, Ben Kealey

Subs: Cathal Quinn for C Curley (HT); Caolan Connery for C Melaugh (HT); Ben McCullagh for S McLaughlin (HT)

To see more pics from the game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/HEVBn2rYRr9SrS

Scorers: O McElhinney 0-3 (2fs); B Kealey 0-1; R Beggs 0-1; C Coyle 0-1 (1f)

Referee: B Winters (Tyrone)