Under 21 Hurling Championship
Antrim 3-23 Down 0-10
Antrim’s Under 20 hurlers launched their Ulster Championship campaign with a decisive victory over Down at a wind-swept Mallusk Playing Fields. Despite playing against a strong breeze in the opening period, the Saffrons started with intent as Oisin McCallin and Reece Cunning combined to establish a five-point lead within the first eight minutes, star man McCallin getting four of the five. Down responded when a defensive slip allowed John Duggan to find the net, followed by points from Ben Taggart and Cathal Coleman to level the scores. Although Antrim regained the lead through Oisin McCallin and Orin O’Connor, Down stayed competitive with scores from Shea Pucci and Cahal Coleman, both of whom had featured for the senior inter-county side the previous day. A long-range free from Down goalkeeper Cian Clarke ensured the visitors trailed by only two points at the interval, with the score standing at 0-11 to 1-06.
With the wind in their favour during the second half, Antrim asserted their dominance and began to widen the gap. Corner-back Cahir Donnelly opened the second-half scoring, followed by a string of unanswered points from Oisin Mc Camphill, Orin O’Connor, Charlie Mc Auley, and Ronan Donnelly. The momentum shifted decisively when Oisin McCallin scored Antrim’s first goal ten minutes into the half. Down attempted a rally through Shea Pucci and Caomhán McAnarney, but the Saffrons finished the game with clinical efficiency. Points from Roan McGarry, Oisin McCallin, Connor McCann, and James McDonnell were followed by late goals from Roan McGarry and Jay McAlonan to seal a convincing win. Antrim now turns their attention to a their next round-robin fixture next Monday at Garvaghey against a Tyrone side coming off an upset victory over Derry.
- Sean Og McLaren (Naomh Pol)
- Cathair Donnely (Mac Uilin)
- Cian Baudant (Mac Uilin)
- Colla Ward (Óisín Gleann Airimh)
- Ronan Donnelly (Naomh Eoin)
- Callagh Mooney (Ruairi Og)
- Charlie Mc Auley (Ruairi Og)
- Calum Mc Ilwaine (Óisín Gleann Airimh)
- Reece Cunning (Cú Chulainn, Dún Laithí)
- Ronan Fitzgerald (capt) (Na Seamróga)
- Orrin O’Connor (Óisín Gleann Airimh)
- Thomas Mc Laughlin (Ruairi Og)
- Cadhan Crawford (Mac Uilin)
- Oisin Mc Camphill (Cú Chulainn, Dún Laithí)
- Oisin McCallin (Cú Chulainn, Dún Laithí)
Substitutes: 16. (GK) Anthony Mullan (Mac Uilin) 17. Sean Óg Blaney (Cú Chulainn, Dún Laithí) 18. Conor McCann (Ruairi Og) 19. Ardan Kelly (Mac Uilin) 20. Niall McClean (Mac Uilin) 21. Jack Martin (Cú Chulainn, Dún Laithí) 22. Roan McGarry (Na Seamróga) 23. Jay Mc Alonan (Cú Chulainn, Dún Laithí) 24. Canice McIntosh (Óisín Gleann Airimh) 27. Oisin Gillen (Óisín Gleann Airimh) 28. Niall Magee (Óisín Gleann Airimh) 29. Oisin Woodhouse (Ruairi Og) 30. James McDonnell (Naomh Pol) 32. Liam Mc Enhill (Ó D Rosa)
Down (An Dún)
Starting 15:
- Cian Clarke (Baile Mhic Uileagóid)
- Dominic McGrath (Baile Crann)
- Cillian Ennis (Ceathru Aodh Dhuibh)
- Ronan Breen (Baile Crann)
- Manus Gilmore (Baile Crann)
- Sean McCollum (Bredach)
- Frankie Ferguson (Bredach)
- Leigh Morgan (Port an Pheire)
- Patrick McGarry (Bredach)
- Caomhán McAnarney (Baile Aileach)
- Dara Pucci (Baile Mhic Uileagóid)
- Daniel Kinney (Bredach)
- John Dougan (Bredach)
- Finbarr Blaney (Ceathru Aodh Dhuibh)
- Cahal Coleman (Port an Pheire)
Substitutes: 12. David Morrissey (Ceathru Aodh Dhuibh) 16. (GK) Eoghan Devine (Baile an Mhéirligh) 17. Conor O’Neill (Bredach) 18. Rory McEntyre (Cumann Pheadair Naofa) 19. Connaire Monan (Baile Mhic Uileagóid) 21. Alex Taggart (Baile Mhic Uileagóid) 22. Shea Pucci (Baile Mhic Uileagóid) 23. Rory O’Donnell (Ceathru Aodh Dhuibh) 24. Matthew Dorrian (Baile Mhic Uileagóid) 25. Dara Rogers (Baile Crann) 26. Ben Taggart (Baile Mhic Uileagóid)
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