Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final
Belfast Saints 3-23 Loch Mor Dal gCais 2-33
A Darragh Turley inspired Loch Mor Dal gCais finally escaped the shackles of a battling Belfast Saints to advance to the final of the Junior B Hurling Championship at Pairc Una on Friday night.
In a high scoring encounter which provided some excellent scores the sides couldn’t be separated over the 60 plus minutes and it took extra time before the Lough Shore side could pull away.
The early exchanges suggested that Loch Mor Dal gCais would have too much for their hosts as they raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead by the 9th minute with their goal coming from the impressive Darragh Turley and Martin Braniff, Matthew Jones, Cathan O’Heireamhoin and Turley supplying the points.
Veteran, Phillip Maguire got the Belfast Saints point and the St. Teresa’s man would have a big influence on his side’s performance.
Keevan Og Grieve and Maguire 0-3 responded to Turley’s goal with Turley raising 2 more white flags (1 ‘65’) in reply to leave his side leading by five at the end of the opening quarter.
Maguire was doing all in his power to get the ‘Hoops’ going and he split the posts in quick succession and Joseph McQuillan, Kieran Grieve and Keevan Og Grieve closed the gap to the minimum by the 21st minute.
It was Loch Mor who finished the half on top with Darragh Turley pointing 2 frees but they received a setback when Ferdia Carson was shown a second Yellow.
It failed to disrupt their rhythm however as Matthew Jones and 2 more from the imperious Turley had them four to the good at the break and they were good value for that lead
Belfast Saints had it back to a single score within 2 minutes of the restart as he fired over 3 unanswered points before Cathan O’Heireamhoin opened Loch Mor’s second half account with a point.
Things were certainly heating up as the excellent point taking continued as Brian Keatings and Paul Molloy exchanged further scores and the personal scoring battle between Maguire and Turley continued as the main protagonists exchanged scores.
The end to end exchanges continued with Matthew Jones’ point for Dal gCais bringing a reply from Chris McKee and Kevin Grieve for the ‘Saints’ and Turley again responding from a free in the 12th minute.
Kieran Grieve and Turley exchanged further minors and then it was the turn of that man Maguire as he hit three on the bounce to keep the hosts interest in the contest very much alive.
Then it was Darragh Turley’s turn again and after Matthew Jones had split the posts for the visitors, Turley converted 2 frees and added another long range effort from play to put his side back in the driving seat.
Maguire and Turley exchanged further converted frees before Maguire (f), Chris McKee and Keevan Og Grieve with a goal in the 28th minute edged the home side ahead with two minutes remaining.
It would be the Loch Mor talisman, Turley who would come up with the final score as he pointed a free in the 30th minute to send an enthralling game into extra and those who had turned up to witness this excellent game were certainly getting value for their money.
There was a greater sense of urgency, perhaps coupled with some relief as Loch Mor Dal gCais stepped up another notch as extra time got under way and Turley pointed from a free after 30 seconds and added another from play with 3 minutes gone.
The Saints replied through Dylan Grieve but the momentum had swung very much in favour of the Loch Shore men as Martin Braniff and Turley with three fine efforts put a little bit of daylight between the sides as they turned for the second period of extra time.
That man Turley put further distance between the sides on the restart when he rattled the Belfast Saints net in the opening minute and he added a point, direct from a ‘65’ with four minutes gone.
Cathan O’Heireamhoin added a point and two more from the superb Darragh Turley had the visitors out of sight before Phillip Maguire drove a free through a crowded goal mouth for what would be the Saints only score of the half.
The final point of the game fell to Loch Mor Dal gGais’ Cathan O’Heireamhoin but by that stage his side had both feet firmly planted in the decider and a meeting with Latharna Og, Larne.
An excellent game of hurling which produced scores of the highest order where special mention must go to Darragh Turley for Loch Mor and Phillip Maguire for Belfast Saints.
Spare a thought too for a Belfast Saints player who received a head injury and had to be taken to hospital.
We at the Saffron Gael and all Antrim GAA supporters wish him a speedy recovery.
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