Gaelfast Year 8 Antrim Cup Final

This year’s edition of the Year 8 Antrim Cup culminated this afternoon at the Dunsilly Training Complex, with hurlers from Cross and Passion, Ballycastle and St Killian’s College, Garron Tower competing in a high quality, high scoring encounter with the former coming out on top after establishing early daylight in the tie and retaining their Antrim Cup crown for a third straight year, despite a valiant late fight back from the St Killian’s lads.  

Cross and Passion came sprinting out of the blocks into an early lead, with Oisin Richmond splitting the posts in style to open the scoring. This was quickly followed up with points from Ronan Smith, Ruairi Hennessy, a fine score from range from captain, Sean Johnson and two really classy points from Ruairi McQuillan – something which became a running theme throughout the afternoon.

Sevie Trowlen responded well from a free to get St Killian’s underway in the tie, after good work from Niall McKay. However, further CPC scores from McQuillan and the ever-impressive Iarla Gillan restored daylight in the tie, before Joe Richmond rifled home his first goal of the afternoon to consolidate CPC’s early dominance.

Dogged defensive work from Odhran McLaughlin and Fionnbhar Atcheson in the heart of the St Killian’s defence, accompanied with fine saves from keeper, Patrick Harris, kept them in the tie, however the onslaught from CPC continued throughout the first half. A goal for the industrious Jake Feetham was followed by Joe Richmond’s second of the day, before Ruairi Hennessy found the back of the net to wrap up a supremely impressive first half display for the Cross and Passion side.

The second half saw St Killian’s coming out with a point to prove, with end to end action throughout. Early goals were exchanged by Ronan Smith, Sevie Trowlen and Jake Feetham, with a few fine points struck by Conrad Bailey to continue the rapid scoring trend of the first half. St Killian’s began to battle hard in the midfield through Ronan O’ Loan and Niall McAuley, picking up much more possession now and looking inside to find their forwards. However, the immovable Conall McAuley was often there to put a stop to any imposing danger.

Noah McAuley entered the fray and immediately found the net, before Jude Montgomery responded in equal form, finding the back of the net for St Killian’s in stylish form. This inspired a fight back in the St Killian’s corner, with the determined Trowlen finding the net for the second time, before Niall McAuley helped himself to a brace of goals too. With their tails up, St Killian’s continued to attack, with Jack Black putting one between the posts. However, CPC continued to be ruthlessly efficient in attack with Oisin Richmond finding the net, and Oisin McCaughan and Ruairi McQuillan putting the game to bed with more quality scores for the winning side.

It was a game that was played in good spirits on both sides, with the two year 8 sides boasting a truly impressive amount of skill all around.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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