Featured Image: Niall Rogers, who had a good game for Shane O’Neill’s
ACHL Division 2
Shane O’Neill’s 1-14 Ballycran 0-19
Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm and Ballycran served up a fiercely contested division 2 game of hurling at Feystown on Sunday with the Fetstown side desperately unlucky not to get something out of the game.
Trailing by one as the clock counted down the Glenarm side looked to be in for a second goal when youngster, Niall Rogers raced clear on goal where he was taken out by Ballycran keeper, Cathal Lavery but the home side had their appeals for a penalty waved aside and had to settle for a pointed free from Aidan Scullion.
Despite being without the services of Niall McGarel and Ciaran Magill the Glenarm side matched the men from the Ards all the way and the result was in the balance with time almost up.
Ballycran’s Adam Rogan tidies up as Ben O’Boyle moves in to challenge
It was Paul Sheehan who pointed the visitors ahead in the 4th minute and the Ballycran number 12 would contribute 4 of his side’s first half total and seven in all over the hour.
Aidan Scullion brought matters all square by the 8th minute, and like Sheehan, would be a major contributor for the Feystown side with his strong performance at mid-field.
Conor Dorrian, playing at full-forward added two further points to 2 from Sheehan as the visitors led 0-4 to 0-2 with Scullion adding to his early point from a well struck free for the home side.
Some of the challenges were not for the feint hearted as Lorenzo McMullan let play flow and the excellent Darren Hamill struck a couple of frees from distance to tie the contest at 0-5 apiece at the end of the opening quarter.
Aidan Scullion and Paul Sheehan exchanged further points before Niall Rogers edged Glenarm ahead after being set up by Ben O’Boyle but the visitors finished the half on top and Ethan Bell, Conor Woods and a great point from Michael Hughes had them one ahead at the short whistle.
Shane O’Neill’s took a time to emerge from the dressing rooms for the second half but when they did they were quickly into the action with Aidan Scullion levelling matters with a point after 30 seconds.
Things were certainly livening up as Conor Dorrian restored the visitors lead but almost immediately Glenarm hit the front for the second time in the game. Young Niall Rogers showed electric pace as he cut in along the bye-line before placing Paddy mcAuley who finished to the net
The visitors were back on terms however by the fifth minute as Michael Hughes from distance and Sheehan from a pointed free fired over but half time substitute Sean O’Hare split the posts at the other end to edge the Feystown men ahead once more.
Glenarm’s Darren |hamill rises to claim the sliotar
Paul Sheehan and Aidan Scullion exchanged further points to leave the gap at one but Glenarm will reflect on a dominant period where the hit four wides in quick succession that could have put a bit of distance between the sides.
Still they maintained that narrow lead after Conal Ward replied to a superb side-line cut from Sheehan with 9 minutes remaining as Ballycran threw the Miskillins, Jake and Paul into the action.
The Ards men were beginning to get on top and Paul Sheehan (f), Conor Dorrian and Conor Woods were all on target before Aidan Scullion replied with a great long distance effort to leave just one between the sides with three minutes remaining.
Then came the Rogers incident with Lavery perhaps lucky to stay on the field for his challenge and the award a free rather than a penalty which Scullion pointed.
It would be Ballycran who would grab the initiative as the game edged into extra time with Conor Woods and the impressive Sheehan on target to see their side home by two points
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Ciaran McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Sean Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Ryan McLoughlin, 11 Dylan McLaughlin, 12 Sean McDermott, 13 Niall Rodgers, 14 Ben O’Boyle, 15 Paddy McAuley
Ballycran: 16 Cathal Lavery, 2 Dominic McGrath, 3 Brad Watson, 4 Adam Rogan, 5 Manus Gilmore, 6 Michael Hughes, 7 Steven Gilliland, 9 Sean McCarthy, 10 Ethan Bell, 11 Conor Woods, 12 Paul Sheehan, 13 Dara Rogers, 28 Conor Dorrian, 15 Eoin Kelly
Subs: 19 Jake Miskimmin, 29 Paul Miskimmin
Referee: Lorenzo McMullan
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