Eunan with the Oisin’s as they bridge a 25 year gap to win the Intermediate crown

Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Glenariffe 2-18 Tir na nÓg 0-10

Saturday 18 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Healy Park, Loughgiel

Glenariffe banished the demons of 12 months ago on Saturday afternoon as they claimed the Intermediate crown against Tir na nÓg. 14 points was the difference, but this was a brilliant display from the Oisin’s who led from start to finish.

Alex O’Boyle finished top of the scoring charts, the Glenariffe ace marksman finished with 1-9 for the hour while Daniel Kearney added the second goal. Having played with a substantial wind in the first half, Glenariffe held an eight point lead at the interval. It was far from an insurmountable lead and Glenariffe would have had plenty of work to do in the second half but their work rate, intensity, brilliant organisation in defence and how clinical they were in front of goal paved the way for their victory. Their ability to deal with the aerial bombardment in the second half from Tir na nÓg with David Kearney, Niall Magee and Cailin Devlin all outstanding.

Tir na nÓg would have been relatively pleased at the half way mark given the wind advantage they had for the second half. They started the final superbly and were only a couple of points adrift after the opening quarter, Sean Duffin going through a mountain of work in the middle of the park while Caoimhin Duffin, Eamon Og McAlister and Sean McKinley were all prominent.

But the old adage of ‘goals wins games’ rang true once more as Glenariffe’s ability to create and take their goal chances in the second half gave them breathing space and an ability to control the contest, keeping the Tir na nÓg challenge at bay.

With the surface at the Shamrocks home ground in pristine condition the only fear was the elements would turn this into the proverbial game of two halves. The Oisin’s looked to build a lead but Tir na nÓg’s aggression, organisation and work rate were keeping them at bay. It was a quiet opening 10 minutes with the sides tied on one point apiece, Conor Patterson with the opening score of the final and Ciaran Logan responding for the men from Whitehill. Sean Duffin split the uprights for his first of four frees over the hour in the eighth minute, his effort coming moments after the first goal chance of the final. Alex O’Boyle looked to dance his way through the Tir na nÓg challenges but a brilliant hook from Ryan O’Neill denied him while Brandon McLarnon was also in close attendance.

Glenariffe finally began to exert some extended pressure at the other end of the pitch. Odhran Gillan and David Kearney splitting the uprights while a brace soon followed from Alex O’Boyle – one from a free while his point from play lit up the final, wide on the right and from distance.

Glenariffe were starting to go through the gears with Oliver Kearney, Orrin O’Connor and Calum McIlwaine all influential. Kearney and McIlwaine would fire over the next four points evenly between them, all coming inside a three minute spell where the Oisin’s threatened to cut loose.

A further brace of Alex O’Boyle frees came either side of another glorious goal chance for his side with Patterson going close. Sean Duffin fired over a brace for Tir na nÓg, one from a 65, their first score in over 20 minutes to reduce the Glenariffe lead to seven points but Calum McIlwaine had the final say of the half with his third white flag to leave the half time score 0-12 to 0-4 in the Oisin’s favour.

Despite the difference, it was very much ‘game on’ at the half way mark. The wind felt like it had increased and when Sean Duffin fired over a brace of frees from inside his own half, Tir na nÓg looked like they were going to eat their way into the deficit.

Glenariffe reorganised and set up to counter against the Tir na nÓg attacking threat and the elements early in the second half. They could have had the opening goal of the game with substitute Brogan O’Connor going close and Michael O’Boyle’s rebound somehow kept out of the Tir na nÓg goals but the Glenariffe support didn’t have much longer to wait for their first goal.

Tir na nÓg had the sliotar in the middle of the park when Alex O’Boyle intercepted a pass and sped through the heart of the Tir na nÓg defence. He assessed his options but elected to go alone and found the back of the net to put nine between the sides in the 37^th minute.

The Tir na nÓg response showed their fighting qualities however with Sean Duffin (free) and Sean McKinley splitting the uprights. It could and probably should have been more but for some errant shooting, four wides and two points coming in a five minute spell where they were dominating the Glenariffe puck outs.

Once Glenariffe got to grips with their own restarts, they showed their class at the other end of the pitch. O’Boyle once again brilliant from placed ball, a brace from distance while Brogan O’Connor got in on the scoring action moments later.

Tir na nÓg were exerting all the pressure but getting little or no change from a strong Glenraiffe defence and when Daniel Kearney scored the second Oisin’s goal in the 46^th minute, the writing was on the wall for the Randalstown men. Calum McIlwaine and Niall Magee combining before the Glenariffe centre half sent the sliotar into Kearney. The inside forward turned his man before setting off for goal, showing brilliant movement to evade the challenges, he found the back of the net to put 13 points between the sides in the 46^th minute.

Emmett Murray split the uprights with an instant reply for Tir na nÓg but Glenariffe were content to sit back and soak up all the Tir na nÓg pressure that came their way. Tir na nÓg were going to need goals to get back into this game and rarely looked like breaching a superb Glenariffe defence. A trio of frees from Alex O’Boyle came at the other end of the pitch while a point from Ryan O’Neill was all the Tir na nÓg men could manage in the time that remained.

A brilliant win for Glenariffe who were disappointed to lose at this stage 12 months ago. It’s 25 years since the Oisin’s lifted the Intermediate crown and with the memory of Eunan Harvey fresh in their minds, Glenariffe had a 16^th man helping them bridge that gap.

TEAMS

GLENARIFFE: Paul McMullan; Patrick McIlwaine, Michael Haughey, Cailin Devlin; David Kearney, Niall Magee, Calum McIlwaine; Odhran Gillan, Oliver Kearney; Orrin O’Connor, Conor Patterson, Michael O’Boyle; Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh, Daniel Kearney

Subs: Brogan O’Connor for S McIntosh (3); Phelim Ward for D Kearney (50); Colla Ward for P McIlwaine (52); Donal Kearney for O Kearney (58)

Scorers: A O’Boyle 1-9 (8f); C McIlwaine 0-3; Daniel Kearney 1-00; O Kearney 0-2; David Kearney 0-1; O Gillan 0-1; C Patterson 0-1; B O’Connor 0-1

TIR NA NÓG: Kevin Sheerin; Brandon McLarnon, Dara Martial, Manus Smith; Ryan O’Neill, Caoimhin Duffin, Daniel Martin; Sean Duffin, Conor McCamphill; Ciaran Logan, Emmett Murray, Eamon Og McAlister; Josh Higgins, Sean McKinley, Daragh Fagan

Subs: Colm Duffin for D Martial (30); Kevin McCann for C Logan (42); Tiarnan Bonnes for J Higgins (57); Daniel McLornan for C McCamphill (57); Oliver McAtamney for E Murray (58)

Scorers: S Duffin 0-6 (4f, 1’65); R O’Neill 0-1; C Logan 0-1; E Murray 0-1; S McKinley 0-1

Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)