U20 Ulster Cup Hurling
Antrim 4-19 Down 3-20
Saturday 8 February
Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballycran
Antrim were pushed to the pin of their collar on Saturday afternoon as they made it two wins from two in the Ulster U20 Cup to reach the decider. Two points separated the sides but it was the Saffrons who cast a relieved figure at the end of the hour as Down ran out of time.
The Mourne Men scored a goal with what was turned out to be the last puck of the game after a brilliant catch from Shea Pucci. Amongst a crowd, Pucci rifled the sliotar high to the net as Down staged a dramatic ending to a good game of hurling.
The Saffrons were guilty of squandering possession on numerous occasions, more so in the second half and being wasteful with their final delivery. There are positives to take from the hours hurling with Cormac McKeown, Joseph McLaughlin, Charlie McAuley and Callagh Mooney all impressing. Joseph and brother Thomas would bag first half goals along with Calum McIlwaine while substitute Fiontan Bradley scored their fourth with his first touch in the second half.
Of the 4-19 scored, 4-14 came from open play and the scores coming from a range of players. McKeown’s ability to find space, break tackles and speed from a standing start will always mean he’s a threat while the work rate of Oran Donnelly and Calum McIlwaine was exemplary.
However, the efficiency in front of target and decision with ball in hand certainly won’t be pleasing for Mickey McShane and his backroom team. Down squeezed up on Antrim with the game largely played on the home sides terms. The Saffrons were unable to play with any fluidity for long periods and while Down were a physically imposing side, they were graced with some excellent players with top hurling ability also.
Midfielder Cathal Coleman top scored with 12 points and an awesome display from placed ball while Luke McCabe and Noah Rogers had the green flag raised along with Pucci. John Duggan and Sean McCarthy also caught the eye in the middle third but Antrim did enough to book their place in the Ulster final.
The sides were tied on two points each when Down scored the opening goal after seven minutes. McCabe rifling the sliotar beyond Eoghan Richmond with power and precision from an acute angle.
The Saffrons responded well with Joseph McLaughlin and McKeown to the fore before Thomas McLaughlin scored their first goal of the game. With a side line ball 30 yards from goal, Paudie Martin showed impeccable vision before delivering the perfect pass into the rushing McLaughlin. Thomas would finished expertly to give Cian Clarke no chance between the sticks.
With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Antrim struck two majors in as many minutes to put daylight between the sides. Calum McIlaine and McKeown combing to send Joseph McLaughlin through on goal and he finished expertly.
Barely 60 second later and an almost carbon copy of the previous move, McIlwaine was put through after Orrin O’Connor and Martin combined to create the chance. McIlwaine made no mistake to put eight between the sides.
Down responded well Coleman’s frees, McCabe and a brilliant side line cut from Duggan cutting the deficit while Antrim were guilty of a number of wides in the closing stages of the half.
Five points separated the sides at half time and while the home side had that deficit reduced to four points after the opening nine of the second half, Antrim scored their fourth goal to maintain their advantage. Oran Donnelly breaking from midfield and delivering a cross-field ball to the right hand side. The sliotar fell and substitute Fiontan Bradley pulled first time to give the Down ‘keeper no chance. A rasping drive from Bradley with what was his first touch of the game.
Six points separated the sides going into the last five minutes of the hour when Down scored their third goal. Diminutive forward Noah Rogers gathered the sliotar and looked to evade any Antrim tackles and while the angle was far from kind, his finish was top drawer with the sliotar coming back off the post and nestling into the back of the net.
Antrim responded with scores from Bradley and Joseph McLaughlin and should have scored another major but both McKeown and Joseph McLaughlin fluffed their lines when presented with the chance.
The final goal of the game came with what was the last action of the contest and fittingly, Coleman was involved. The Down midfielder had a brilliant game and his delivery from a free was plucked from the air by Pucci who finished with aplomb. It was too little, too late for the Mourne Men however as Antrim hung on.
Down will travel to Derry next week with what will effectively be a semi final and while Antrim have booked their place in the decider in four weeks time, there is plenty of work to do between now and then.
TEAMS
Antrim: Eoghan Richmond; Callagh Mooney, Sean Óg Blaney, Malachi McGibbon; Charlie McAuley, Niall Magee, Reece Cunning; Oran Donnelly, Calum McIlwaine; Ronan Fitzgerald, Orrin O’Connor, Thomas McLaughlin; Cormac McKeown, Joseph McLaughlin, Padraig Martin
Subs: Fiontan Bradley for R Fitzgerald (39); Joe McNaughton for O O’Connor (39); Brogan O’Connor for P Martin (46)
Scorers: J McLaughlin 1-7 (3fs, 2 ‘65s); C McKeown 0-5; F Bradley 1-2; T McLaughlin 1-2; C McIlwaine 1-00; R Fitzgerald 0-1; O O’Connor 0-1; B O’Connor 0-1
Down: Cian Clarke; Dominic McGrath, Daniel Cunningham, Rory Taggart; Ben Taggart, Rory McCamphill, Connaire Monan; Cathal Coleman, Sean McCarthy; Shea Pucci, Luke McCabe, John Duggan; Noah Rogers, David Morrissey, Sean McCollum
Subs: Sean O’Neill for R Taggart (35); Liam Blaney for S McCollum (43); Calum O’Neill for D Morrissey (56); Conor O’Neill for R McCamphill (59); Manus Gilmore for C Monan (60+2)
Scorers: C Coleman 0-12 (9fs 1’65); L McCabe 1-2; N Rogers 1-2; S Pucci 1-00; J Duggan 0-2; S O’Neill 0-1; L Blaney 0-1
Referee: Aidan McAleer (Derry)
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