Minor Hurling Championship – Semi-final
Glenariffe-Glenravel 2-12 Ballycastle 0-15
Glenariffe-Glenravel held off a second half challenge from Ballycastle to win by three at the end of Sunday’s Minor Hurling Championship semi-final at Waterfoot.
The reigning champions appeared to be in a strong position when they led by 1-08 to 0-06 at half time, but Ballycastle came storming back to close within a point entering the last quarter, but a goal by substitute Conal Boyd put the home team back in charge and they held out to win by three to set up a final meeting with next door neighbours Cushendall in two weeks’ time.
Cadhan Crawford gave Ballycastle the lead in the opening minute but man of the match Canice McIntosh and Oisin Gillan hit back with two points apiece to open up a 0-04 to 0-01 lead for Glenariffe-Glenravel after ten minutes. Ballycastle came back with three on the trot from Darragh Donnelly, Conor Donnelly and Cadhan Crawford to draw level by the end of the opening quarter.
A point from Oisin Gillan and two by Canice McIntosh put the home side back on top and though Conor Donnelly pointed for Ballycastle a fantastic long range point from inside his own half by McIntosh on 26 minutes was followed by a goal from Joe McKay, after McIntosh had created the opening.
A great point by Cadhan Crawford cut the gap back to five at half time and when he added another thirty seconds into the second half to cut the gap back to four. Midfielder Niall McClean hit a beauty to leave just three between the sides and when Cadhan Crawford grabbed the next two points for the visitors the gap was back to the minimum by the 48th minute. Cadhan Graham pulled one back for the home team but that was quickly answered by Ballycastle corner forward Peter Laverty.
On forty-eight minutes Oisin Gillan, who had been well marshalled by Ballycastle full-back Darragh Kinney during the third quarter, broke clear of his opponent and sent a pass to second half substitute Conal Boyd who fired home Glenariffe-Glenravel’s second goal and put them back in charge. Two points by Conor Donnelly and one from centre back Darragh Donnelly got the gap back to two with seven minutes left to play, but the home team held out with two more Canice McIntosh points in reply to two by Darragh Donnelly and Cadhan Crawford to seal a three point win.
GLENARIFFE-GLENRAVEL
Ben Duncan, Charlie Dunne, Harry Fyfe, Daniel Mitchell, Ronan Magee, Colla Ward, Dylan McMullan, Cadhan Graham, James Kearney, Canice McIntosh, Niall McKeown Christy Leech, Oisin Gillan, Joe McKay, Ciaran McCann.
BALLYCASTLE
Ruairi McShane, Oisin Donnelly, Darrach Kinney, Tiernan Staunton, Oran Baudant, Darragh Donnelly, Conor Boylan, Niall McClean, Luke Connolly, Conor Mooney, Cadhan Crawford, Cormac Scanlan, Conor Anderson, Conor Donnelly, Peter Laverty.
Referee – Paul O’Neill
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