Antrim Hurling League – Division 2
Shane Uí Neills 1-17 Creggan 1-16
Pete Hyndman reports from Feystown
Darren Hamill rolled back the years, as he starred for the hosts with an excellent performance of hurling skills, fielding and his pin point accuracy from the dead ball. The former county star slotted over 10 free’s and also struck a fierce 21 yard free to the net to earn a one point victory.
Glenarm’s defence worked considerably well and drowned out any real Creggan threat. Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Kieran O Boyle, Declan Mc Dermott, Sean Mc Dermott and Michael Fury all had a solid hour and helped pave the road to a great win against the worthy opponents.
Creggan played really well also but for their stubborn opposition who hassled and harried them. Conor and Ruairi Mc Cann did the most scoring with Conor bagging 1-08(6 f’s) and Ruairi knocking over 5 points from open play.
It was a lovely evening for hurling at Feystown, with a sizeable crowd there to enjoy, what turned out to be a brilliant spectacle for advertising our great game.
Paírc Fearsithe fell silent before proceedings got under way as there was a minute’s silence, which was impecably held, for Creggan member Gerry Small who had passed away.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
First blood fell to Glenarm, as Conal Ward slotted over a second minute point and Darren Hamill hitting his first free of the game, but Creggan bounced back with a brace as Morgan Nelson and Ruairi Mc Cann hit a point each.
Hamill knocked over another point from a free before Rory Mulvenna drove over a nice effort from 40 yards.
The score’s were coming in thick and fast as the visitors hit 3 score’s in a row with Conor Mc Cann converting a free, and Ruairi driving 2 points over Michael Abram’s bar.
Hamill again punished the Creggan boys with a free to level the game, and some great spreading of the ball in the next few minute’s was a joy to watch but both teams squandered their chances and shot wide.
The Loughshore team then hit a purple patch as Sean Duffin got 2 points from out the pitch and Conor and Ruairi Mc Cann hitting points, the former effort was a converted free.
Half time was creeping up and with Glenarm trailing by four, they needed a lift, up stepped captain Darren Hamill who converted two free’s the second just as the short whistle sounded.
Shane Uí Neill’s 0-07 Creggan 0-09
GLENARM UP THE ANTE.
The second half resumed with the visitors moving the ball better which resulted in the two Mc Cann’s grabbing more score’s, Conor’s effort was a needless free from Glenarm.
Hamill got his first point after the break from a free from 55 yards. The Creggan boys starting playing with a bit of swagger and won a loose ball, Conor Mc Cann dipped and collected the ball before lashing it beyond a diving Michael Abram in the home nets. The hosts where now trailing by six!!
John Scullion working at corner back for the home side claimed a loose sliotar and soloed up the pitch and slotted over a fine point from 45 yards, but Conor Mc Cann then slotted over another effort from the dead ball.
At this stage Glenarm upped the ante and started dominating a large portion of this tight tussle. A free from Hamill from midfield was converted and a minute later Darren stood over a 21 yard free, before sending a unstoppable shot beyond Creggan’s Cormac Rice for a Glenarm major……Game on.
Two minute’s later the teams where level as Sean O Hare and Dylan Mc Laughlin pointed which pleased the large crowd, and a moment later Glenarm took the lead as Aidan Scullion found the target from distance.
Fair play to Creggan, Conor Mc Cann who stopped the rot and hit two free’s to lead by the bare minimum, before Glenarm’s captain Darren Hamill rallied the side and drove over a brace of free’s. With Mc Cann replying with a solitary point to level this fixture for the fourth time.
In the closing minute’s of this battle Mc Cann struck another free for the visitors, before Hamill calmly split the uprights again to level matters. It was anybody’s game at this stage but in added time it was all shoulders to the wheel to claim the ball, which fell to wing half Dylan Mc Laughlin who hit it right over the black spot to earn a one point win for the home side.
Glenarm.
Michael Abram, Sean Mc Dermott, Barry Hamill, John Scullion0-01, Kieran O Boyle, Declan Mc Dermott, Michael Fury, Conal Ward0-01, Aidan Scullion0-02, Rory Mulvenna 0-01, Dylan Mc Laughlin 0-01, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Paddy Mc Auley, Darren Hamill 1-10, 10f, Sean O Hare 0-01
subs. Sean O Boyle for Declan Mc Dermott 36mins, Liam O Neill for S O Boyle 58mins. Liam Mulvenna.
Creggan
Cormac Rice, Paul Colgan, Odhran Hampsey, Peadar Mc Guckian, Senan O Boyle, Kealan Mc Cann, Daniel Doran, Sam Maguire, Ronan Mc Guckian, Sean Duffin 0-02, Sean Mc Auley, Michael Maguire, Conor Mc Cann 1-08, 06f, Morgan Nelson 0-01, Ruairi Mc Cann 0-05.
subs. Ryan Mc Grath, Shea Devlin, Aidan Mc Guire.
Reiteóir Lorenzo Mc Mullan ReplyForward
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