Glenarm v Bredagh at Feystown
Photos and report by Pete Hyndman..
Captain Darren Hamill was the Man of the Match with a star performance from free-taking and an all-around hurling prowess; he was always in the right place at the right time. He bagged 2-03 from play, and a further six frees, plus a “65”.
Not to be outdone by his brother, Barry Hamill also had an excellent 60 minutes working in his centre-back berth, clearing any threat from the Belfast team. Barry combined with John Scullion, Declan McDermott, Liam Óg McLoughlin, and young Sean McDermott, who all played major roles in this home win, while goalkeeper Michael Abram made a few excellent saves.
Bredagh tried hard but couldn’t break down the hosts, who dominated most of this league game. The visitors had John Dougan and Ben Christie to thank for all their points.
A light rain shower didn’t spoil the start of this match, as Darren Hamill slotted over an early point from play from 45 yards out. Bredagh returned the favour with a point from John Dougan. A few moments later, Hamill added two more points to his tally with two frees. Darren then hit a purple patch, scoring another point, and after dipping for a low ball, he bounced off a tackle and sent a rasper beyond Sean Hughes in the Bredagh goals!!
John Dougan replied a moment later with a point. Paddy McAuley was making a nuisance of himself in the Glenarm forward line. After claiming a ball, he found his captain on a run, who carved his way through a couple of lazy tackles and drove in his second major score of the fixture. Dougan hit his third point for the away team before Ben Christie also got a white-flag effort.
Aidan Scullion put over a home point, only for a quick response from Christie from a free. Glenarm’s stickwork was impressive to watch, and after a few neat passes, Dylan McLaughlin split the uprights. Then, Paddy “Crow” McAuley won a breaking ball and, from the edge of the square, gave the hosts a commanding lead with a well-taken goal. Conal Ward also took a point for the Feystown outfit.
John Dougan was showing some early promise and pointed his fourth for the visitors. Hamill replied with a dead-ball effort a minute later. The last few minutes before the short whistle belonged to Bredagh, who had Dougan pointing a free and one from play, and Christie slotting over a “65” and another from play to eat into the Glenarm lead.
HALFTIME: Shane Uí Néill 3-08 — Bredagh 0-10
After the break, there was to be no respite for the visitors. Glenarm’s Aidan Scullion dropped in a high ball that totally evaded the Bredagh keeper and nestled nicely in the corner of the net, much to the pleasure of the home support. Dylan McLaughlin was next to jump high to claim a sideline cut, and pulling on the sliotar over his shoulder, he hit a delightful point. Again, the crowd applauded the effort.
Ben Christie replied from distance with a nice point. A few minutes later, after some great fielding from Sean O’Hare, he found Scullion in space, who obliged with a fine score. The home team were now relentless. After a passage of play, Hamill popped up to claim a puck-out before casually hand-passing to McLaughlin, who jinked through the defence and hit the back of the onion bag for Glenarm’s fifth major!!
Bredagh’s two scorers, Christie and Dougan, replied with a point apiece, with the former’s effort coming from a free. A Hamill free and a point from play from Dylan McLaughlin soon cancelled out the visitors’ efforts.
In the third quarter, both teams made changes, with Rory Mulvenna and Liam O’Neill replacing Sean O’Hare and Paddy McAuley, and Ryan McLoughlin coming on for Ben O’Boyle for the hosts. Joe McKeown also replaced Tom Savage for the South Belfast boys.
The last quarter was a bit of a rout for the hosts, in particular their captain, Darren Hamill, who hit a “65”, a free, and two from play, sandwiched around a solitary point from John Dougan for the Bredagh boys. With the match nearly up, Declan McDermott, returning to bolster the home side, found himself charging up the pitch from his defensive duties, scooped up a broken ball, and split the uprights.
In the closing seconds, a loose ball in the crowded home box made its way into the net off a Bredagh stick. Glenarm’s last score came from substitute Ryan McLoughlin, who won a ball and drove it over the black spot to cap off a great home win.
Shane Uí Néill: Michael Abram, Liam Óg McLoughlin, Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Kieran O’Boyle, Declan McDermott (0-01), Michael Fury, Conal Ward (0-01), Aidan Scullion (1-02), Sean McDermott, Dylan McLaughlin (1-03), Ben O’Boyle, Patrick McAuley (1-00), Darren Hamill (2-10, 6f, 1 “65”), Sean O’Hare. Subs used: Rory Mulvenna, Liam O’Neill, Ryan McLoughlin (0-01), Liam Mulvenna, Gerard Burns.
Bredagh: Sean Hughes, Odhran Morgan-Little, Tom Savage, Sean McCollum, Liam Hogan, Patrick McGarry, Sean Doyle, Mel Lavery, Eoin Lovell, John Dougan (0-08, 3f), Ben Christie (0-06, 1f, 1 “65”), Frankie Ferguson, PJ Lavery, Eoin Kennedy, Luke Doran. Subs: Joe McKeown, Finn Hackett, Tiarnan Sheeran, Mark Guest, Jarlath McCollum.
Réiteoir: Paul O’Neill (An Creagán).
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