Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2

Glenariffe 2-19 St Gall 0-16

Glenariffe were made to work hard for their victory against a very determined St Galls team who were fighting to stay in this year’s championship. Going in at halftime St Galls held a one point advantage on a scoreline of St Galls 0-11 to Oisins 1-7, and there were a few worried faces in the Glenariffe support. There needn’t have been as whatever was said at halftime seemed to have done the trick and Glenariffe outscored the vistors by 1-12 to 0-5 in the second half to win by 9 points on a scoreline of 2-19 to 0-16.

St Galls took the lead in the first minute with a free from Greogory McGreevy, whose free taking was excellent and would finish with 6 points from placed balls in the first half. Glenariffe responded with an excellent point from wing half back Colla Ward, before St Galls took the lead from the excellent Ronan Crossan who finished the game with 6 pts(4 from play and 2 frees). Both free takers swapped points before Jack Hopkins finished off good work from the St Gall’s forward line to put St Galls one up again.  Calum McIlwaine pointed from distance to level things again for Glenariffe, but the home team couldn’t seem to find their rhythm, and Greogory McGreevy continued to punish them from placed balls. Brogan 0’Connor was on the end of a great run from Odhran Gillan to score a good point and when Seanie McIntosh cut in from the left hand side to goal and give the home side the lead for the first time, drilling the ball so hard that it actually went through the net. You thought Glenariffe would kick on from here but St Galls finished the half the stronger scoring five points to Glenariffe’s two, to go in a point up at halftime.

Orrin O’Connor and Ronan Crossan swapped points at the start of the second half, before a great catch from Seanie McIntosh on the edge of the square, where he turned and rifled his second goal of the game to give Glenariffe a two point lead. Greogory McGreevy pointed from a free again to bring St Gall’s back to a point, but then the Oisin’s hit a purple patch scoring the next six points without reply to open up a seven point gap. A point each from the O’Connor brothers and four from Alex O’Boyle placed balls, the pick being from all of 90 metres.  Both teams continued to swap points and Glenariffe were unlucky not to increase their goal tally but for two great saves from Kurtis McGreevey in the St Galls nets who threw himself bravely at shots from Odhran Gillan and Alex O’Boyle. Ronan Crossan, who had now taken over the free taking duties, scored two from placed balls before the Oisins finished strongly with points from Alex O’Boyle and the hard working Orrin O’Connor after a great run from Niall Magee. The only downside to the second half for Glenariffe was the injury picked up by Calum McIlwaine who looks a doubt for the next round.

This was a spirited performance from St Galls who can take a lot from this game, particularly in the first half. Kurtis McGreevey was excellent in nets and was ably assisted by Jim O’Reilly and Jack Hopkins. Up front Ronan Crossan had a great game, Gregory McGreevey’s free taking was super and Fergus Donnelly caused problems all day.

Glenariffe may feel slightly disappointed with their first half performance but they weathered the storm to win comfortably in the end. Niall Magee had a great game in defence with David Kearney and Patrick McIlwaine putting their bodies on the line all day. Odhran Gillan and Calum McIlwaine put in a mountain of work at midfield. Alex O’Boyle had a good game up front finishing the game with 10 points ( eight frees and one 65), Orrin O’Connor had a great battle with Ciaran McCaffrey and worked hard to finish with three points from play and Seanie McIntosh was in great form scoring two great goals and two points, all from play.

Up next in two weeks’ time for St Galls is Cloughmills and Glenarfiffe face Randalstown, both games being at neutral venues.

Glenariffe

1.P McMullan 2.P McIlwaine 3.M Haughey 4. C Devlin 5. D Kearney 6. N Magee 7. C Ward(0-1)  8. C McIlwaine(0-1) 9. O Gillan 10. O O’Connor(0-3)11. N Murray 12. M O’Boyle 13. B O’Connor (0-2)14.S McIntosh(2-2)15. A O’Boyle (0-10, 8F &1 65)

Subs Used: D Kearney for B O’Connor 38min, J Kearney for M Haughey 48min, P Ward for N Murray 49min, R Leech and C Graham for P McIlwaine and C McIlwaine 52min.

St Galls

1.K McGreevey 2. A  Mackle 3. G Adams 4. O Kelly 5. E Walsh 6. J O’Reilly 7. C McCaffrey

8.D Churchill 9. J Hopkins(0-2) 10. A Mullan) 11. O McIlhatton 12.G McGreevey (0-7, 7F)                13. M Napier (0-1)14.F Donnelly 15.R Crossen(0-6, 2F)

Subs Used: E Loughran for C McCaffrey 39min, E Farrelly for A Mullan 42min

TO SEE MORE OF SEAN PAUL’S PHOTOS FRO THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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