Shane Uí Neills 2-17 Tir Na Nóg 2-13
IHC ROUND 3
Pete Hyndman reports from Feystown:
It was a fairly warm evening in Feystown for what turned out to be a real battle between two strong sides. A light shower of rain early on soon cleared before the throw-in at Páirc Fhearsaíthe, leaving the pitch with a light dew as both teams prepared for another important Intermediate Championship encounter.
A large crowd had gathered for this fixture, and they certainly made their voices heard, with the supporters raising the roof after nearly every score in what developed into an entertaining and closely fought contest.
Both sides knew the importance of the two points on offer, and from the opening whistle there was a real no-quarter-given attitude, with neither team willing to give an inch.
Glenarm came into the game sitting proudly at the top of the table, now having collected six points from their opening three games, while Randalstown had two points from their three outings.
With the championship table beginning to take shape, every score and every battle for possession was taking on added importance, and the sizeable Feystown crowd were treated to a game that went right down to the wire.
The battle between the free takers, Sean Duffin of Tir na nOg and Darren Hamill of Glenarm went right down to the wire with the Shane O’Neill’s captain hitting a number of late scores to get his side over the line
Emmet’s, Cushendun also remain firmly in the mix, sitting on four points from two matches ahead of their fixture against Glenravel tomorrow.
Shane Uí Neills now move into the next round with another valuable championship victory, after a hard-fought Battle of the Blues.
Tir Na Nóg started brightly from the throw-in, showing their intent immediately as they slotted two early points over the bar. Tiarnan Bonnes opened the scoring for the visitors, before Sean Duffin added a converted free to give the Randalstown side an early advantage.
Glenarm were quick to respond, however, as Aidan Scullion produced an excellent effort from right out on the side-line, opening the home side’s account in some style.
Scullion was beginning to find his range, and in the next passage of play he delivered another superb effort, this time from a 45-yard sideline cut, sending the ball sailing cleanly between the posts to bring the Feystown crowd to their feet.
The Glenarm forward was now proving a real handful. Scullion collected the ball soon afterwards, showed great strength and composure to evade a couple of challenges, before unleashing an unstoppable effort which flew beyond the visitors’ goalkeeper and into the net for a major score.
It was a stunning passage of play from Scullion, who had quickly turned the game on its head with his accuracy, determination and eye for goal.
Sean McKinley pointed next for the hosts, before Sean Duffin showed his accuracy from placed balls once again, slotting over another free from distance for the Whitehill boys.
Glenarm’s nippy forward Niall McGarel was beginning to show early promise, stealing a low ball from the Tir Na Nóg defence before turning sharply and sending a fine effort over the bar.
Ciaran Logan who was prominent in the Tir na nOg attack
On eighteen minutes, corner forward Ryan O’Boyle found a pocket of space and made the visitors pay, taking his opportunity well to raise another white flag for the home side.
This tight tussle was proving exciting to watch, with the exchanges very much tit for tat and both teams refusing to give their opponents any easy possession. The intensity was evident in every challenge, as the sizeable crowd were treated to a proper championship battle.
The visitors responded with two further scores, Tiarnan Bonnes adding another point before Duffin struck from play, keeping Tir Na Nóg within touching distance as the game continued at a lively pace.
Glenarm then hit a purple patch, with Darren Hamill ramming over a well-struck “65”, before Aidan Scullion followed up with a brace of excellent points. The pressure was building on the visitors, as the home side began to find space and move the ball with greater purpose.
Tir Na Nóg, however, settled themselves and stemmed the flow, with Ciaran O’Neill adding another point from the stick to keep the visitors firmly in it.
Then, a mistake in the Glenarm defence proved costly. Jude Storrie spotted an opportunity and, from distance, lobbed the advancing Michael Abram in the Glenarm goals with a superb effort, sending the ball sailing into the net to level this exciting contest.
The momentum had swung once again, but Glenarm were not finished before the short whistle. In the next phase of play, Darren Hamill showed his composure from the placed ball, striking over another trademark free to edge the hosts back in front.
The referee soon called for the ball, bringing an exciting opening half to a close.
HALF TIME
Shane Uí Neills 1-08 Tir Na Nóg 1-07
After the break, play resumed in much the same fashion as the opening period, with neither side willing to give an inch. Tir Na Nóg struck first, Sean Duffin converting another free to level proceedings and give the visitors renewed confidence.
Glenarm responded almost immediately, with Dylan McLaughlin tagging over a fine point from all of 40 yards, restoring the home side’s slender advantage.
The visitors, however, began to gain a foothold once again, and Tiarnan Bonnes showed his accuracy from dead-ball situations, driving over two frees in quick succession. Another Sean Duffin free followed, giving Tir Na Nóg a two-point lead after forty minutes.
Glenarm needed a response, and it came from the stick of the lively Niall McGarel. The nippy forward judged a long-distance effort to perfection, sending the ball cleanly between the uprights and reducing the deficit as this tight championship tussle continued to swing from end to end.
Randalstown’s Sean McKinley hit his second point of the game, showing good composure to keep the visitors’ scoreboard ticking over. Darragh Fegan then followed as he lofted a fine effort over the bar to stretch Tir Na Nóg’s advantage as the game entered another important phase.
Leading into the final quarter, Glenarm upped the ante, and they had Dylan McLaughlin and Daniel Black to thank for two excellent scores, reducing the deficit to a single point and setting up a grandstand finish in this championship encounter.
A moment later, the home crowd erupted as Aidan Scullion struck the ball with real purpose, sending over another superb score to level the game. The momentum had swung firmly back in favour of the Feystown boys.
SUPER SUB NETS FOR GLENARM
In the next phase of play, Glenarm were impressive in their defending, with a clearance driven up-field into the forward line. A rebound of the goalposts fell kindly into the goalkeeper’s box, where recently introduced substitute NiallRodgers reacted superbly, pulling first time on the sliotar to send it beyond the Randalstown keeper for a crucial major score.
The home supporters were in full voice, and Glenarm continued to press forward. A moment later, another excellent effort pierced the evening sky as the hosts added a further Darren Hamill “65”, stretching their advantage.
The four-point lead, however, was soon reduced to a solitary point when Darragh Fegan cut in for the visitors and finished clinically and the fat was very much back in the fire.
Glenarm recovered from the scare, showing great composure when it mattered most. Darren Hamill, lethal from the placed ball throughout the evening, stepped up once again and calmly split the uprights with another free.
The team captain was not finished yet. Tracking back late on, he showed remarkable accuracy from distance, converting two more frees from 90 and 80 yardsrespectively, as the Feystown boys held their nerve to seal another valuable championship victory.
The home side had shown great character to recover from every challenge thrown at them, and when the final whistle sounded, Glenarm had once again proved their ability to find a way to win when the pressure was at its greatest.
Spare a thought for Tir nma nOg however. The Whitehill side have been hit with injuries this season but turned in what was probably their best performance in this year’s championship to push Shane O’Neill’s right to the wire.
Glenarm: Michael Abram, 4 John Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Ciaran Magill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Sean McDermott, 11 Niall McGarel, 12 Daniel Black, 13 Dylan McLaughlin, 14 Darren Hamill, 15 Sean O’Boyle, 19 Aidan O’Neill, 27 Ryan O’Boyle
Subs: 18 Niall Rodgers, 23 Paddy McAuley
Tir na nOg: 16 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Brandon McLarnon, 3 Oliver McAtamney, 4 Manus Smith, 6 Caoimhin Duffin, 7 Ciaran O’Neill, 8 Connor McCamphill, 20 Sean Duffin, 10 Ciaran Logan, 12 Tiarnan Bonnes, 14 Sean McKinnley, 18 Darragh Fagan, 24 Dara Martin, 26 Jude Storrie, 28 Declan Mallon, 17 Daniel McLornan
Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)
Eimear Petticrew who sang Amhran na bhFiann beautifully prior to the game and referee, Darren McKeown with the captains and linesmen