U21B Hurling Final
Shane O’Neill’s 0-18 Tir na nOg 1-10
Storm Floris may have not reached the heights predicted on Wednesday in Ballymena but Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm took full advantage of the gale that blew down Slemish Park to build up a substantial half time lead in this keenly contested U21B Hurling final against Tir na nOg.
That the Randalstown side choose to play against the strong wind in the first half after winning the toss was a decision that was questionable as the boys from Feystown raced into a 0-12 to 0-2 half time lead.
A shower that fell in the minutes leading up to half time seemed to calm down the breeze though the Whitehill side still had a reduced version at their backs in the second half as they battled hard to close the 10 point gap.
They had it back to four going into the final quarter after a strong third quarter where they scored 1-6 but that was as close as they got as Shane O’Neill’s stood strong to win by five in the end.
It was the Glenarm side who opened at breakneck pace with Niall McGarel, Gerald Burns, Michael Fury and Sean McDermott pointing to lead by four after four minutes as they dominated the opening exchanges.
Their opponents, Tir na nOg were finding it difficult to mount a meaningful attack but it took a timely clearance by the Shane O’Neill’s defence to deny Ciaran McCamphill in the 8th minute.
Gerald Burns, John Scullion, James O’Kane and Niall McGarel from a 60 meter free increased the Shane O’Neill’s lead to 0-8 by the 20th minute and despite missing a number of frees it was looking like a walkover for the Feystown side at this stage of proceedings.
Joe McCormick finally opened the Tir na nOg account with a point in the 21st minute with Niall Rodgers and Gerald Burns with a superb conversion moving the Glenarm men 9 ahead by the 25th minute.
The Whitehill side were battling hard to get their game going as they faced the wind and a slick moving opponent and Conor McKenna raised their second white flag of the evening in the 26th minute.
Shane O’Neill’ continued to dictate matters and points from Michael Fury and a 60 meter conversion from Niall McGarel saw them head to the dressing rooms with a fairly healthy looking 0-12 to 0-2 half time lead.
Given the fact that they would now face the wind in the second half, the question was, would a 10 point lead be enough and when the Randalstown side hit 1-3 in the opening minutes that 10 point half time lead looked in some danger.
Caleb Smith was the man who led the early charge with a point and Tiarnan Bonnes added another before Smith hammered home the game’s only goal and when Connor O’Neill followed with a point in the 5th minute their fight-back looked well on target.
Team captain McGarel steadied the ship with a point for Shane O’Neills and Gerald Burns replied to a pointed free from Bonnes as Glenarm began to recover from the early Randalstown onslaught.
The exchanges were fairly even at this stage though the Shane O’Neill’s defence were playing out of their skins to contain the opposition attacks with Ciaran McLoughlin, Michael Fury and John Scullion getting in some timely tackles.
Gerald Burns and Niall Rodgers responded with points but points from Conor McKenna and Tiarnan Bonnes at the other end had it back to four by the 16th minute.
Once again the Feystown side found a response and that man McGarel converted a great 60 meter free into the breeze and added another from closer to goals to move his side six ahead by the 19th minute.
The Glenarm captain, McGarel then saw another attempt rebound of an upright with Robbie McDonald denied from the rebound at the expense of a ‘65’ which the team captain converted.
That score moved the boys in light blue 7 ahead again with five minutes of normal time remaining and despite a sustained late push from Tir na nOg which produced 2 points from Dylan McLarnon, it was Shane O’Neill’s who deservedly claimed the title.
After the game Antrim committee member, Terry Reilly presented the U21B Cup to Shane O’Neill’s captain, Niall McGarel as his colleagues and large support roared their approval.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Blaine Mitchell, 2 Odhran Daly, 3 Michael Fury, 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 Ronan Rodgers, 13 Niall McGarel, 14 Gerald Burns, 15 Niall Rodgers
Subs: Matthew Black, Ryan O’Boyle
Tir na nOg: 1 Aodhan McGuckian, 2 Malachy Martin, 3 Patrick McCloskey, 4 Odhran Loughran, 5 Dara Martin, 6 Daniel McLornan, 7 Paul McCloskey, 8 Dylan Larnon, 9 Brendan Devlin, 10 Joe McCormick, 11 Tiarnan Bonnes, 12 Ciaran McCamphill, 13 Connor O’Neill, 14 Conor McKenna, 15 Caleb Smith
Subs: Rory Neeson, Pauric Redmond
Referee: Seamus Shannon (Rossa)
Terry Reilly presents he U21B Cup to Glenarm captain, Niall McGarrell
to view more pics from the final click on the linkbelow