Ulster Under 20 Hurling Final
Venue – Dub Arena, Belfast
Antrim have named their team for tonight’s Under 20 Hurling final against Down at the Dub Arena, Belfast. Sean Og McLaren starts in goal behind a full-back line of Cathair Donnelly, Liam Glackin and Colla Ward, while the half-back line is made up of Niall Magee, Callum McIlwaine and Conor McCann.
Charlie McAuley and Thomas McLaughlin form the midfield pairing with Liam McEnhill, Orrin O’Connor and Conor Donnelly making up the half forward line. Oisin McCallin is named at full forward with Fiontan Bradley on his left and Ronan ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald on his right.
The two teams met in the first round of the round-robin series back in January in what was a “game of two halves” dictated by a strong wind. Antrim put in a big shift in the first half against the breeze, and lead by two points at the break.
Oisin McCallin was the star of the show that day, finishing top scorer while Roan McGarry & Jay McAlonan came off the bench to grab late goals that put a gloss on the scoreline for the Saffrons. It has to be said Down had three players in action that day who had lined out for their seniors the previous day in the National Hurling League.
Antrim will no doubt go into tonight’s game as firm favourites after scoring big wins over Tyrone, Donegal and Wicklow in their subsequent games, but their game against Derry at Celtic Park gave a little bit of concern, as they struggled to shake off the Oak Leaf challenge. There was only a point between the two teams that night going into injury time, but four late points gave the Saffrons’ scoreline a better look.
When Down met the Derry men in their round robin game a couple of weeks ago, it was a different story, as the men from the Ards beat Derry comprehensively, and that should act as a warning to the Saffrons just what this Down team is capable of, and they must not take them lightly.
The action gets underway at the Dub at 7-30
