JP Corry Under 21 B Hurling final
St John’s 4-18 Sarsfields 2-08
The Antrim Under-21B Hurling Final between St John’s (Naomh Eoin) and Sarsfields took place at Hannahstown, delivering an action-packed contest from the first whistle. The game opened explosively in the second minute when St John’s Ronan Donnelly secured an early goal. Seven minutes in, Tomas Adams added to the St John’s tally with a point from a free but Sarsfields registered their first score in two minutes later with a point from play by their corner forward Jamie McElholme, despite beingunder severe pressure. Caolan Wilson immediately responded with a point from play for St John’ and in the tenth minute, Sarsfields goalkeeper Andrew McStay produced a great save to keep his side competitive. Over the next ten minutes, St John’s steadily built their lead, with Ronan Donnelly scoring points in the 11th and 19th minutes, Conan McKinney striking a good point on 17 minutes, and Tomas Adams converting a free in the 21st. Sarsfields’ McElmome added a point from a free in the 12th minute, while Daire King secured a point from play for St John’s on 22 minutes. Towards the end of the half, Sarsfields found some rhythm; Donncha McGurk hit a massive point from a free deep inside his own half on 26 minutes, and Darren Delander quickly followed up with a point from play. Caolan Wilson notched another point for St John’s in the 28th minute, before Darren Delander closed out the scoring for the half with a 29th-minute free for Sarsfields. Despite playing into a strong breeze, St John’s carried a 0-08 to 0-05 lead into the half-time break.
In the second half, St John’s dominated the scoring exchanges. Tomas Adams sparked the momentum with back-to-back points, slotting a free at 34 minutes and following it up a minute later with a point from play out on the right-wing. Ronan Donnelly then found the net for his second goal of the match in the 36th minute. Sarsfields fought to stay in touch, with Darren Delander pointing a free at 37 minutes and Cormac Mulligan scoring at 38 minutes. However, St John’s were relentless; Tomas Adams scored another free at 40 minutes, Caolan Wilson added a point from play at 41 minutes, and James Wilson raised a white flag at 43 minutes. Tomas Adams continued his accuracy from placed balls, converting frees in the 46th and 53rd minutes, while St John’s tacked on another point in the 54th minute. Sarsfields enjoyed a moment of brilliance in the 56th minute when Fionn Jemphrey scored a great point direct from a sideline cut. Any fleeting hopes of a comeback were instantly dashed in the 57th minute when Tomas Adams scored a goal for St John’s to stretch their lead. Shortly after, Andrew McStay made another fantastic save for Sarsfields, but Lewis Rafferty was on hand to turn the rebound into the net for St John’s fourth goal of the day. Darren Delander managed to grab a late goal for Sarsfields in the 62nd minute, but it was fitting that Tomas Adams sealed the game with one final point in the 63rd minute to seal a 4-18 to 2-08 for the Corrigan Park side.
St John’s: 1 Eoghan Millar, 2 Ollie Gregory, 3 Michael Darragh, 4 Caolan McCalin, 5 Odhran Quinn, 6 Enda McGurk, 7 Lorcan McCalin, 8 James Wilson, 9 Fintan McKinney, 10 Daire King, 11 Caolan Wilson, 12 Ronan Donnelly, 13 Lewis Rafferty, 14 Conan McKinney, 15 Tomas Adams.
Sarsfields: 1 Andrew McStay, 2 Ben McCaul, 3 Donncha McGurk, 4 Stiofán McCarry, 5 Jay Ward, 6 Jay Maguire, 7 Jake Ward, 8 Darren Delander, 9 Fionntán McCallum, 10 Oisín Coleman, 11 Daire Jemphrey, 12 Cormac Mulligan, 13 Fionn Jemphrey, 14 Aaron Anderson, 15 Jamie McEllone
Referee – Chris Brown
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