U21B Hurling Semi-Final
Shane O’Neill’s 4-15 All Saints 1-17
Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm are through to the final of the U21B Hurling Championship after an epic battle with All Saints, Ballymena at Feystown on Monday night.
The game turned into a personal scoring shootout between Glenarm’s county panellist, Niall McGarrell and All Saints Darrach Bradley who was superb for the Ballymena side.
Seven points separated the protagonists in the end but the scoreline slightly flattered the home side with three of their four goals of the soft variety and down to poor defending by the visitors defence.
It was McGarel who got Shane O’Neill’s off on the front foot when he fired past Luke Walsh in the All Saints goals after 20 seconds to give the Feystown side the perfect start.
Darrach Bradley got All Saints off the mark with a couple of pointed frees and the Ballymena number 9 would play a major part in his side’s challenge as he struck 0-9 of his side’s first half total to give them a 0-10 to 1-6 half time lead.
Their other score came from a long distance Pearse Martin free as Shane O’Neill’s continued to keep in touch with McGael adding all six of his sides opening half points.
John Scullion became only the fourth player to raise a white flag as he fired over the equaliser on the restart with McGarel pointing his side ahead before the excellent Bradley tied matters once more from a ‘65’.
A great catch and point on the turn by Michael Connolly saw the Slemish Park side edge ahead once more but Glenarm were starting to get on top and John Scullion cut in from the left to fire home their second goal with 8 minutes gone.
The Feystown side continued to press and Niall McGarel 0-3 and Robbie McDonald added points with Bradley again responding for the visitors to leave three in it after 18 minutes play.
McGarel pointed again before disaster struck for the visitors as Gerald Burns got in for a very soft goal to put more daylight between the sides.
Points from Pearse Martin and another converted Bradley free had it back to six with five minutes remaining before disaster struck again and this time it was substitute, Ronan Rodgers who was on hand to punish a defensive mistake for his side’s fourth goal of the evening.
Niall McGarel added a point and Ryan O’Boyle followed with another to put it well out of All Saints reach but the Ballymena side kept going to the end and man of the match, Bradley drove his free through a packed goalmouth with McGarel concluding the scoring with the game’s final point.
Shane O’Neill’s will now meet Tir na nOg in the final and in the end they were worthy winners but All Saints will be disappointed by the final result but their management should take great pride in their commitment on the night and the quality of their hurling.
Niall McGarrell was excellent for the Feystown side and began to influence the contest when they moved him further out the field in the second half and he finished with 1-12 of his side total while Darrach Bradley contributed 1-14 for the Slemish Park side.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Blaine Mitchell, 2 Odhran Daly. 3 Michael Furey, 4 Robbie McDonald, 5 Ciaran McLoughlin, 6 John Scullion, 7 James O’Kane, 8 Charlie Black, 9 Sean McDermott, 10 Charlie Ward, 11 Shea McConnell, 12 Ryan O’Boyle, 13 Niall McGarel, Gerald Burns, Niall Rodgers.
Subs: Ronan Rodgers for JamesO’Kane
All Saints: Luke Walsh, 2 Robert Crooks, 3 Paddy Murphy, 4 Finn Connon, 5 Harry Connon, 6 Pearse Martin, 7 Connor O’Hara, 8 Archie McGreevey, 9 Darrach Bradley, 10 Sean O’Brien, 11 Jakub Kaczmarek, 12 Tiernan McGurk, 13 Michael Connolly, 14 Daniel Kelly, 25 Antoin Martin
Referee: Fergus McAlister (Cushendall)
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