Leinster Minor B Hurling Final
Antrim 0-21 | Wicklow 2-9
Report by Ryan Mcafee
Photos by Mickey Morgan
Antrim’s minor hurlers showed grit and resilience to secure a hard-fought victory over a determined Wicklow side in the Peadar O’Liathain final at Dowdallshill, Dundalk.
James McDonnell set the tone with the opening score, and it was one-way traffic in the early stages as the Saffrons burst out of the blocks with real purpose. Hitting eight unanswered points, Antrim’s inside forward line wasted no time asserting their authority, with all three getting on the scoresheet inside the opening ten minutes thanks to sharp deliveries into the danger area.
To their credit, Wicklow responded with determination. A slick attacking move carved open the Antrim defence and Tom Brennan finished low to the net to register their first score of the afternoon. A string of frees from Brennan brought them level before a well-taken point from Sean Smyth edged Antrim ahead at the break.
Jay McAlonan opened the second-half scoring for the Saffrons, but the game remained tight as Cadhan Crawford and Brennan traded placed-ball efforts. McDonnell (2) and Dylan McNaughton then helped stretch Antrim’s lead to five, and Canice McIntosh added a superb long-range point to keep the pressure on.
Antrim keeper Liam Magee was called into action with a brilliant low save to his right, but as the ball broke loose, the referee awarded a penalty to Wicklow for holding in the square. Magee stood tall again, producing another top-class save to deny Brennan, who had been clinical from placed balls all game.
Wicklow continued to fight and struck for a second goal late on to reduce the gap to three, but Antrim responded well under pressure. Points from McIntosh and Anthony Cochrane—both from distance—steadied the ship, and a vital late block from Paddy Morgan ensured there would be no route back for Wicklow.
A strong team display sealed a satisfying victory for this promising Antrim group, as captains Conor McCann and Cadhan Crawford proudly lifted the Peadar O’Liathain cup.
On their way home from the final in Dundalk the team called into Corrigan Park, Belfast where the team were paraded before the fans during the half time inteval in the Antrim v Dublin SHC game.
Antrim: 1. Liam Magee 2. Aaron Quinn 3. Liam Smyth 18. Paddy Morgan 5. Canice McIntosh (0-2) 6. Conor McCann 7. Eunan Johnston 8. Caolan Wilson 9. Dylan McNaughton (0-1) 10. Ronan Taylor (0-2) 11. Christy Leech 12. James McDonnell (0-3) 13. Sean Smyth (0-2) 14. Jay McAlonan (0-2) 15. Cadhan Crawford (0-7) Subs: Anthony Cochrane (0-1), Daire Jemfry
Wicklow: 1. Conor O’Sullivan 2. John Lynch 3. Sean Traynor 4. Se Killoran 5. Ciaran Darcy 6. Sean Byrne 7. Sean Byrne 8. Rian Rooney 9. Senan Shorthall 10. Luke Cotter 11. Tom Brennan (2-7) 12. Jim O’Brien 13. Cillian Brady (0-1) 14. Daniel Duffy 15. Joe Keeshan (0-1)
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/xpzxYbjFFUWjRQ/?invite=4fe75439-0155-47d0-838e-81d379b70493