ACHL Division 2
Shane Uí Neills 2 – 15
Carey 0 – 20
Report & Pics: Pete Hyndman
A really enjoyable game of hurling between two clubs at the mid to lower end of the table and for the supporters the admission fee was worth it to see a super hours hurling that had absolutely everything!! Hooks, blocks, some excellent score taking, and we’ll throw in some fantastic saves also.
Niall Mc Garel was in superb form for the hosts with his scoring accuracy from free’s and from open play while Carey’s James Black was a main threat for the visitors.
James “Rocket” pointed early in the game before Niall McGarel slotted over a 40 yard free and another point a few moments later from Carey was also cancelled out as McGarel found space and pointed from distance.
Conall Mc Glynn drove over a free for the visitors before a quick response from Mc Garel hit a brace of points from two more free’s. The score’s were coming thick and fast in the early stages of this match, and a clearance out of defence was collected by young Antrim star Niall McGarel who pointed his fifth of the evening.
Connor McBride and James Black replied with a free each for the boys in green to level the game and at this stage there was little between the sides.
Mc Garel was a man on a mission and changed wings before he claimed the sliotar. He evaded a tackle and hit a brilliant effort over Christopher Butler’s bar and a few moments later he split the uprights again for a two point lead for Glenarm.
Darren Mc Gowan reduced the deficit with a nice score from the wing and Conall Mc Glynn levelled this game for a third time with a place ball effort. The boys from Ballyvoy had Callum Cane and Rocket to thank for the next couple of scores to gain a slender two point lead.
Glenarm’s keeper Michael “Dunga” Abram was called upon as a Carey player tested him from 20 yards, but Dunga pulled off an amazing diving save. As the ball was cleared up the pitch McGarel darted forward and shot goal-ward only for Chris Butler to parry the ball wide for a “65”, which was subsequently shot wide.
The Feystown boy’s tails where up after the previous passage of play when young John Scullion charged towards the Carey goals. He was being fouled but the referee played advantage.
Scullion entered the box and drove the sliotar deep into the corner of Butler’s goals to the delight of the home crowd.
Glenarm had now gained the upper hand and added another brace of points before halftime with Ciaran Magill and Scullion adding a point to his previous goal.
HALFTIME Shane Uí Neill 1 -09 Carey Faughs 0 -09
Ryan McQuaid pointed early in the second half to reduce the arrears to a couple of scores.
A few minutes later, with both defences working hard and keeping the early second half threats to a minimum the referee awarded the home side a penalty after an infringement on a Glenarm forward.
Up stepped Niall McGarel who took his time before lifting the sliotar on his stick and struck the ball sweetly beyond Chris Butler who could only parry the ball into his net.
Fiachra McVeigh rifled over a point for the visitors for their 11th point of the evening but back came the versatile McGarel who added to his tally with a 60 yard free.
Tit for tat was the order of the day as Rocket pointed with team-mate Callum Cane getting his second point in this tight-match.
Two needless fouls from the Ballyvoy boys resulted in McGarel sending over two more white flag efforts to move the home side five ahead and it was a further 8 minutes before Carey scored with Connor McBride slotted over a free.
Ciaran Magill then won a ball out of a ruck and shot high into the evening sky and dissected the uprights beautifully before Niall McGarel converted another free for the hosts.
Carey Faugh’s James Black responded with a nice effort from midfield and
Connor McBride sent over back to back free’s eating into the Glenarm 3 point lead.
In the latter stage of the second half McGarel pointed again, before a late surge of points from Rocket, Callum Cane and McBride concluded this epic game with a 1 point win for Shane Uí Neills.
Shane Uí Neills: Michael Abram, Joshua Quinn, Barry Hamill, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Michael Fury, Darren Hamill, Kieran O Boyle, John Scullion, Ciaran Magill, Dylan Mc Laughlin, Sean O Boyle, Conal Ward, Aidan Scullion, Blain Mc Dermott.
Gerard Burns for Conal Ward 55mins, Sean O Hare for Sean O Boyle 57mins.
Carey: Chris Butler, Zach Mc Caughan, Sean Mc Bride, Patrick Gillan, Somhairle Mathers, Peadar Mc Veigh, Conall Mc Glynn, Patrick Butler, James Black, Andrew Mc Garry, Connor Mc Bride, Darren Mc Gowan, Callum Cane, Fiachra Mc Veigh, Ryan Mc Quaid.
Eoin Mc Kinley for Ryan Mc Quaid.
REFEREE Declan McGarry