Ulster U20 Hurling Championship Round 2
Tyrone 0-06 | Antrim 3-17
Despite coming into the tie riding the high of a historic opening-round victory over Derry, Tyrone found the mountain too steep to climb on home soil. Under the lights at the Tyrone Centre of Excellence in Garvaghy, the reigning champions, Antrim, showcased their incredible depth, comfortably securing a 21-point victory despite fielding what was largely a second-string side.
Clinical First Half from the Saffrons
The game began with Tyrone looking to repeat their giant-killing heroics. Aidan Woods was sharp early on, converting two frees in the opening ten minutes to keep the Red Hands in touch. However, Antrim’s clinical edge soon became apparent.
The Saffrons struck a hammer blow in the 6th minute when Jay McAlonan found the back of the net, followed immediately by an Oisin Gillen point. McAlonan proved to be a handful for the Tyrone defense all afternoon, adding three further points from play before the break.
Tyrone’s Daire Sally offered a moment of brilliance with a superb long-range effort in the 18th minute, but Antrim’s momentum was relentless. A second goal from McAlonan in the 27th minute effectively ended the contest as a spectacle, leaving the visitors with an eight-point lead at the interval.
Half Time: Tyrone 0-05 | Antrim 2-07
Saffron Bench Seals the Deal
Any hopes of a Tyrone comeback were extinguished within two minutes of the restart. After a point from James McDonnell , the Saffrons struck for their third goal. McDonnell was again involved, creating the opening for Fiontan Bradley to pull on a loose ball on the ground and find the net.
From there, Antrim’s bench took center stage. Ronan Fitzgerald arrived into the game and instantly made an impact with two quickfire points from play. Tyrone struggled to find a rhythm in the second period, with a lone point from Liam Griffiths in the 7th minute being their only score of the half.
Antrim finished with a flourish, as Roan McGarry , Orrin O’Connor , and Reece Cunning all raised white flags to emphasize the gulf in class. While Tyrone showed plenty of heart—led by the defensive efforts of Cormac McCrystal and Michael Coyle—they simply couldn’t contain the scoring prowess of an Antrim squad that looks favorites to retain their crown.
Scoring Summary
Tyrone: Aidan Woods (0-03, 3f), Daire Sally (0-01), Liam Griffiths (0-01), Caolan Lloyd (0-01).
Antrim: Jay McAlonan (2-04), Fiontan Bradley (1-02, 1f), James McDonnell (0-03, 1f), Ronan Fitzgerald (0-02), Oisin Gillen (0-02), Eddie Smyth (0-01, 1f), Oisin Woodhouse (0-01, 1f), Roan McGarry (0-01), Orrin O’Connor (0-01), Reece Cunning (0-01).
Tyrone Starting XV: A. Grogan; S. Munroe, C. McCrystal, M. Leonard; C. McKenna, M. Coyle, C. McGlinchey; P. Mullin, C. Early; C. Lloyd, A. Woods, R. Woods; D. Sally, L. Griffiths, C. Cunningham.
Antrim Starting XV: S. McLaren; S. Blaney, L. Glackin, E. Smyth; J. Martin, C. McCann, A. Kelly; C. McIntosh, N. McClean; O. McCamphill, J. McDonnell, O. Woodhouse; O. Gillen, F. Bradley, J. McAlonan.
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