Antrim Junior-B Hurling Championship Final 

St Brigid’s 3-13 3-09 Ardoyne 

Kevin Herron reports from Milltown 

St Brigid’s claimed their first major honour as a senior hurling club with a 3-13-3-09 victory over Ardoyne at Milltown on Wednesday evening in the Junior-B hurling final. 

Early goals from Fintan Cleary and Niall Duffy had the Musgrave Park men in the early ascendancy and proved the difference at the break.

But Ardoyne roared back in the early stages of the second half to take the lead through goals of their own through Daniel Moore and Oisin McVicker. 

Phelim Lennon’s introduction from the bench was short-lived though ultimately successful, helping himself to three points before departing through a red card with a quarter of an hour remaining, buy that stage his side had re-established their advantage with three points from Lennon and a second goal from Man of the Match Cleary. 

Ardoyne substitute Hugh Grieve crashed home a late free, but it was scant consolation for the North-Belfast outfit as St Brigid’s toasted their first major hurling honour at senior level. 

Both sides came into the decider off the back of impressive semi-final victories on Saturday. A healthy crowd descended at Milltown and amongst them many members of underage club Brig Og – which includes both St Brigid’s and Ardoyne. 

A by-product of that amalgamation would play a prominent role over the course of the evening in Fintan Cleary. 

He gave his side the early advantage with just over twenty seconds of the clock. Niall Murtagh attempted to swing over the opener- but his effort came back off the large post and Cleary pounced to shoot low past JP Agnew and give his side a dream start. 

That would get better a few minutes later when a free from Kevin Grieve dropped in the danger area and Niall Duffy swung the loose ball home to double the lead and stun favourites Ardoyne. 

Daniel Moore would come up with his side’s initial response, hammering high between the posts and Aaron Stewart then converted a free to close the deficit slightly. 

Goalscorer Cleary angled an impressive point- though experienced Jim McAuley replied at the other end. 

Three successive frees from Fintan Cleary brought his personal tally to 1-04 and a tremendous point from distance by Kevin Grieve had his side 2-05-0-03 ahead. 

Aaron Stewart and Cleary would trade further frees and Stewart notched up his third of the half with a further Daniel Moore point ensuring that at break the early goals from Cleary and Duffy separated the sides.

Ardoyne closed the deficit upon the games resumption with a splendid Jim Og McAuley point and shortly afterwards Daniel Moore squeezed a low shot into the corner of the net past Chris Lundy to cut the gap to two-points (2-06-1-07). 

Momentum had shifted to the North-Belfast side, and they hit the front for the first time with 38 minutes on the clock. 

Dean Goodall floated a high ball in on top of Oisin McVicker- who claimed it and rifled high into the net to give Ardoyne a 2-07-2-06 lead. 

St Brigid’s pulled level through an angled score from substitute Phelim Lennon and his introduction from the bench would yield two further points, another from play and a converted free to move the Musgrave outfit into the driving seat again. 

In between Lennon’s other two-points a goal chance went abegging when JP Agnew denied John McGuckian and the follow-up effort was deflected behind. 

But a third goal would arrive courtesy of Fintan Cleary who shot in his second of the evening to make it 3-09-2-07 with little over a quarter of an hour remaining. 

Despite their lead, St Brigid’s would have to see out the remaining quarter of an hour plus injury-time a man light when referee Eamon Hamill dismissed Phelim Lennon. 

Oisin McDonnell would extend the 14-men’s advantage, though back-to-back frees from Aaron Stewart reduced the deficit to four-points with 50 minutes gone. 

Try as they might, Ardoyne couldn’t make their numerical advantage count and talisman Fintan Cleary would add three further scores to his already impressive tally to put the game surely beyond reach. 

Conjuring up an impressive, angled point, he then added two further frees to put St Brigid’s on the brink of glory with a 3-13-2-09 lead. 

Ardoyne left it late to reply through a converted free from substitute Hugh Grieve and at the final whistle it was St Brigid’s who lifted the Junior-B Championship two-years after forming a senior hurling team at the South-Belfast club. 

Sinead Mullan was on-hand to present captain Phelim Lennon with a trophy and the South-Belfast side will prolong their Championship campaign- entering Group One of the Junior Hurling Championship alongside Davitts, All-Saints and Rasharkin. 

St Brigid’s: C Lundy, B Hallihan, P Heaney, M Burke, B McGurk, C Conway, C Quinn, J McCarney, N Murtagh, F Leyden, N Duffy (1-00), K Grieve (0-01), O McDonnell (0-01), J McGuckian, F Cleary (2-08, 0-06f). Subs: P Lennon (0-03, 0-01f) for F Leyden (37), R Flanagan for N Duffy (51), C Leonard for J McGuckain (56), E O’Mainnin for M Burke (60+1). 

Ardoyne: JP Agnew, P Clarke, P Baker, S McGearty, C Wallace, M McLaughlin, C McShane, P Hull, P McGuigan, D Moore (1-02), O McVicker (1-00), D Saunders, J Og McAuley (0-02), A Stewart (0-05f), D Goodall. Subs: C Curran for S McGearty (50), H Grieve (1-00f) for P McGuigan (53), S Searle for J Og McAuley (56). 

Referee: Eamon Hamill (St Teresa’s)

Antrim Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final

St Brigid’s 7-14 Latharna Óg 4-12

St. Brigid’s upset the odds to qualify for the club’s first Junior B final as they emerged victorious over 2019 winners Latharna Óg in a goalfest at Musgrave Park yesterday afternoon.

A man who cut his hurling teeth with another St. Brigid’s, the Cloughmill’s version, where he had a long and distinguished career as a full-back, John B McGuckian was the star of the show and scored four St. Brigid’s goals.

McGuckian was in excellent form throughout the hour and the Larne defence never really got to grips with the veteran full-forward but the Biddies had heroes throughout  the field and played some excellent stuff with livewire substitute Niall Duffy causing havoc when introduced and indeed, had a hand in three of McGuckian’s majors.

Kevin Grieve rolled back the years with a fine display, Fintan Cleary struck some excellent scores from frees and play, while corner forwards Oisin McDonnell and Phelim Lennon were always a handful for the Latharna Og defence.

Latharna Og went into this one as favourites but they were never able to reach the heights they are capable of with the Musgrave Park side grabbing the initiative from early in the game.

Already, there were ominous-looking signs for Latharna Óg who finally opened their account in the 5^th minute from a Ryan O’Donnell free, but Cleary replied from a free and then McGuckian got onto a long delivery for a pointto leave four in it after 10 minutes play.

The visitors began to settle however with Michael Lismore clipping over a free and then, two minutes after Anthony O’Neill had been denied by Chris Lundy, the big full-forward toe-poked the ball into the path of the unmarked Conor Matthews who fired to the the net to level.

Phelim Lennon hit back with a long-range score immediately as the hosts always seemed to find a response when Latharna Óg got back on terms and this became the pattern of the game for a spell as both sides exchanged scores.

The game looked to have swung decisively in favour of the hosts when Oisin McDonnell got onto Cleary’s long delivery and shrugged off a challenge to find the corner of the net on 22 minutes.

Latharna Og were able to respond however as a long ball downfield broke to Michael Lismore who fired to the net to keep his side very much in touch. The visitors looked to be finding their feet at this stage but were never able to push on and it was St. Brigid’s who again found a response.

Philip McKendry did reply with one at the other end, but the hosts finished the half well with points from O’Donnell, Grieve and two from Lennon sending them in at the half way stage leading 1-13 to 2-5.

A pointed free from Lismore cut the gap at the start of the second half, but St Brigid’s got through for their second goal on 34 minutes as John B got the first of his goals after fielding the dropping ball, before firing home.

Two Lismore points brought the gap back to five, but just when it looked like they were finding a response the visitors seemed to run out of ideas and would not score again for the next ten minutes.

In that time St. Brigid’s hit a purle patch registering 2-1 without reply with both goals coming from McGuckian in a two-minute spell and Duffy the architect of both goals.

First, the substitute raced in on the right only to be challenged by Philip Craig and while his rebound was heading towards goal, McGuckian got the final touch.
Then Duffy burst clear on the right, played a great ball to Cleary who spotted McGuckian all alone inside to finish.

Mark Petticrew did get Latharna Óg going again after Cleary tapped over a free, but a fifth goal was to follow for the Musgrave Park side and it was superb work again from Duffy who looked a major threat anytime he got on the ball, teeing-up McGuckian for a fourth goal.

Duffy was then denied a goal when play was brought back for a penalty that Cleary had saved by Craig and while the visitors hit back with a couple of points, Cleary would not be denied. He gathered superbly on 55 minutes before firing to the net to put his side 6-14 to 2-11 ahead and on their way to a first final.

Latharna Óg refused to throw in the towel and kept battling against impossible odds and goals from Lismore and Keelan McAuley left just nine in it as the game ticked towards stoppage time, while goalkeeper Craig floated in a free that hopped up and over when a goal was needed.

Niall Duffy put matters beyond doubt as he capped a superb individual performance as he took a pass from the hard-working Niall Murtagh and rounded Craig to make no mistake this time and round off a famous victory for St Brigid’s.

A first final in senior hurling for the South Belfast club and they will have high hopes of making it a first trophy when they meet Ardoyne in the final that is scheduled for Wednesday evening.

ST BRIGID’S: C Lundy; P Heaney, E O Mainnin, M Burke; B McGurk, C Conway, C Quinn; J McCarney; N Murtagh; K Groeve (0-2), R Flanagan, F Cleary (1-7, 0-5 frees); O McDonnell (1-1), J McGuckian (4-1), P Lennon (0-3).
Subs: F Leyden for R Flanagan (28), N Duffy (1-0) for P Lennon (38), B Hallihan for E O Mainnin (43), C Leonard for O McDonnell (53), N Finnegan for J McGuckian (55).

LATHARNA ÓG: P Craig (0-1 free); D Martin, B Petticrew, K McAeley (1-0); M Petticrew (0-1), R McKillop, C Shields; R O’Donnell (0-2, 1 free, 1 sideline), P McKendry (0-1); J Black, C McKillop, M Lismore (2-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65); N Darragh, A O’Neill (0-1), C Matthews (1-0).
Subs: C O’Boyle (0-1) for J Black (HT), A McNeill for N Darragh (38), T Carson for C Matthews (50), M Killough for P McKendry (50)

REFEREE: Eamonn Hamill (St Teresa’s)

Antrim Junior-B Hurling semi-final 

Ardoyne 4-27-0-08 Henry-Joy McCracken’s 

From Kevin Herron at Fennell Park 

Ardoyne confidently brushed aside the challenge of near neighbours Henry-Joy McCracken’s to book their place in the Junior B Hurling final with a 4-27-0-08 win at Fennell Park this afternoon. 

They made a fast start with Oisin McVicker floating over their first two points and Aran Stewart then converting a free. 

The hosts were relentless and extended their lead when Daniel Moore intercepted a puck-out and returned it between the posts, Oisin McVicker claimed his third point from play and Moore successfully measured two further strikes between the large posts to give his side a seven-point to no score lead. 

Henry-Joy’s eventually responded courtesy of a Patrick Munan free and they found another from the same scenario- this time Joe McQuillan finding range in response to a Pearse Hull point in-between times. 

The game’s opening goal arrived with little over ten minutes on the clock, Daniel Moore floated the ball into the square where Dean Goodall helped it towards the back post and Oisin McVicker turned the ball past Eamonn McAteer to give his side a 1-08-0-02 lead. 

Joe McQuillan replied with Henry-Joy’s third converted free of the half, though Pearse Hull and David Saunders both dropped over successive points and Oisin McVicker would later clip over his fourth score. 

Ardoyne found their second goal of the game through Paul McGuigan- who saw his low effort crash off the post and in- to make it 2-11-0-03. 

The pressure continued on the Henry-Joys defence as Oisin McVicker played the ball out wide to Aran Stewart- who angled over a superb point and after David Saunders pressed high on the resulting puck-out; he forced a turnover which led to a further score. 

The visitors ended the half with back-to-back points to close the gap slightly, Patrick Munan doubled his half’s tally with a second converted free and Raymond Burns dropped over his sides first from play – but they trailed 2-13-0-05 at the interval. 

Henry-Joy’s picked up where they left off before the break as Patrick Munan hit his sides third score on the spin. 

But Ardoyne soon found their scoring range again, they hit four points in succession- three of those coming from Aran Stewart frees- with Daniel Moore adding to his three first half scores to give them a 2-17-0-06 advantage.

Munan struck Henry-Joys fifth free of the afternoon- though it would be his sides last score for almost twenty minutes as Ardoyne pressed home on their ever-increasing lead. 

They should have added a third goal ten minutes into the second half after David Saunders saw his low shot blocked, the loose ball fell invitingly to Dean Goodall- whose shot was magnificently turned around the post by Eamonn McAteer in the Henry-Joy’s goal. 

Aran Stewart would drop the resulting 65’ over the bar and then add a further score from play moments after before Saunders angled over a nice score for their sides 20^th point of the contest. 

With little under a quarter of an hour remaining Henry-Joys were reduced to 14-men as referee Kevin Parke ordered off Mark Caldwell for dissent.

The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage, Oisin McVicker conjured his first point of the half and Pearse Hull then cut the ball back to Paul Baker to land a terrific point from range. 

Caolan Wallace got his name on the scoresheet after a neat interchange with McVicker and quick-free caught the visitors napping and led to Paul Baker doubling his tally in the process. 

McVicker brought his tally to six and half-back Paul Baker landed a third score as the points tally rose. 

Henry-Joy’s eventually put an end to Ardoyne’s succession of scores when Raymond Burns popped the ball into the path of Munan- who burrowed his way towards the net and could only force it over the bar rather than under and into the net. 

At the other end Paul Baker threaded a pass through to Oisin McVicker who confidently arrowed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-26-0-08.

Substitute Hugh Grieve made an instant impact late-on, dropping a shot over the bar and nudging home his sides fourth goal with the final act of a one-sided semi-final as Ardoyne ran out convincing 4-27-0-08 winners and booked their place in Wednesday evenings decider. 

Ardoyne: JP Agnew, P Clarke, P Baker (0-03), S McGearty, C Wallace (0-01), M McLaughlin, C McShane, P Hull (0-02), P McGuigan (1-00), D Moore (0-04), O McVicker (2-06), D Saunders (0-03), J Og McAuley, A Stewart (0-07, 0-04f, 0-01 65’), D Goodall. Subs: C Curran for J Og McAuley (HT), H Grieve (1-01) for D Moore (52), S Searle for A Stewart (52), E Slattery for D Saunders (52). 

Henry-Joy McCracken’s: E McAteer, C Lowry, M Carlin, P Fitzpatrick, P O’Hagan, M Caldwell, R Clarke, J McQullian (0-02f), A O’Rourke, S McIlhatton, P Munan (0-05, 0-03f), R Burns (0-01), S O’Reilly, C O’Neill, K Mallon. Subs: B Mullan for R Clarke (42). 

Referee: Kevin Parke (Náomh Eánna)

AIB Ulster Junior club hurling semi-final

Craobh Rua (Armagh) 0-14 Con Magee’s (Antrim) 0-11

Con Magees’ bid to make their first Ulster Club Hurling final came up short once again when they were beat by Armagh champions Craobh Rua in Saturday’s semi-final at Davitt’s Park, Belfast. The Glenravel men started well enough and were three points ahead early in the second quarter but Craobh Rua clawed their way back, thanks to some excellent free taking from Tiarnan O’Hare, and the Armagh men were only a point in arrears at half time. (0-7 to 0-6)

Playing with the slight breeze in the second half Craobh Rua went ahead but Con Magees came back to level with another pointed free from O’Loan and they retook the lead with a point from substitute Sean McKay. However the final quarter saw Craobh Rua get a grip on the game and they pushed on to win by three.

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Craobh Rua full forward Ryan Lewis gave his team and excellent start when he found an early opening and pointed from play, but two in a row from Conleth O’Loan frees had Glenravel in front. Tiernan O’Hare pulled one back from a free but two excellent scores from play by Declan Traynor helped the Antrim champions to a three point lead by the first water break.

The second quarter saw O’Hare close the gap from another free and though Declan Traynor hit a couple of top class points from play for the Con Magees, O’Hare’s accuracy saw Craobh Rua eat into the gap and by half time just a point separated the sides. (0-7 to 0-6)

Another point from a placed ball by O’Hare restored parity, and the Camlough men went ahead for the first time with another O’Hare score. Sean McKay brought Con Magees level with twelve minutes of normal time to play with a neat point from a snap shot from the 45 metre line but Craobh Rua were controlling possession around the middle of the field and they were getting on top. O’Loan was off target from a couple of difficult frees late on and the Armagh champions went two clear with two more points from the excellent Tiarnan O’Hare, before sealing the one with another deep in injury time.

An excellent win for the Armagh champions, who were forced to field without football star Jarly Og Burns. Glenravel will be bitterly disappointed but when they look back on their season in a few days’ time they can reflect on what was overall a very good year for the club.

Craobh Rua  Camlough

C Rowantree; D McCloy, S O’Keefe, B McKevitt: M Garvey, O O’Hare, M Doran; P Garvey, F Burns 0-1; F Bradley 0-1, T O’Hare 0-10 (f), S Watters; R Casey, R Lewis 0-1, C McKevitt 0-1.

Subs: D Harris for F Bradley (21), F O’Callaghan for R McKevitt (40), F McCann for R Casey (41), F Bradley for S Watters (54), C Brannigan for D Harris (60)

Con Magee’s Glenravel

 Ronan Donnelly, Brian O’Neill, Shanlee Kerr, Johnny Fyfe capt, Padge O’Neill, Eoin McCusker, Michael McDonnell, James Duffin, Charlie Henry, Delan Traynor 0-4, Niall Donnelly, Cathal Hynds, Conleth O’Loan 0-5 (4f) Rian Lennon 0-1, Damien O’Hagan.

Subs: Sean McKay 0-1 for D O’Hagan (HT), Sean Burns for N Donnelly (57)

Referee: A McAleer (Donegal)

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Cormac Scullion hurled for Glenravel Con Magees for more years than he cares to remember. Now he is reduced to the ‘Half Pace’ hurling on a Tuesday evening, which he helps organise and writes about with great wit and humour. He penned this piece a couple of weeks ago for the club Facebook page before they played Naomh Colum Cille in the quarter final, so I shared it here before their semi-final at Craobh Rua.

I’m 36 years old and I still glance over at my da for his verdict as I walk off the pitch at the final whistle. A wink. A thumb in the air. A shake of the head. All instantly summing up our most recent performance on the hurling field. That’ll do for now, I’ll head on in and get changed, as I know we’ll chat about it on and off for the next few days, regardless of the result. He’s seen it all before. So have I at this stage I suppose, so we have plenty to chew over at the kitchen table or wherever we happen to be.

Growing up listening to stories of matches won and lost, Championship wins and the heroes involved, you can’t help but absorb that love for the club, that sense of belonging. It’s hard to put a finger on it, and I suppose everyone’s different, but the older you get the more you come to realise what it all means, why we all do it through good times and bad. You’re just one of the current playing generation and you’ll eventually pass the baton on to the next one, having tried your best to leave the team in a better place, happily sacrificing blood, bones and the odd tooth along the way.

At 38 the boots are hung up and the furthest the hurl gets now is the back garden. No Feystown on a wet Wednesday night or hot sun and even hotter tempers over at Dreen. Plenty to smile about and a few regrets too, that’s how it goes really. You won’t remember what you had for lunch this time last week but that ball you caught under the bar to hold out for the win 17 years ago is as clear in your mind today as it was when the final whistle was blown that night.

I see my neice, nephew and daughter starting out on what may or may not be a long career inside the white lines. Who knows? They could decide it’s not for them sooner or later. Hopefully not though, them getting involved just seems like a natural progression, like me from my Da, him from his. Families play such an important role in the conveyor belt. They’re the foundations every club is built on and each new generation is another row of bricks.

The parents bring the wee ones when they’re just about big enough to hold a hurl or push a football about. They don’t really know why they’re there or what it’s all about but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves so they’ll come back again next week, sure somebody said there might be sweets!

For so many parishes, the GAA club is at the centre of the community. On the surface it’s matches on a Sunday or a midweek summers evening and for those not directly involved that’s maybe all they see. But a local club is so much more than that. Handfuls of coaches for every age group, plotting, planning, preparing, dreaming. The pitches are full every night of the week from February to October as training and matches carry on whatever the weather.

Social media has everyone connected more than ever before and conversations never stop. If you went back and told your Grandparents you could talk to 10, 20, 50 people at once, without saying a word, they’d think your head was cut. Fundraising efforts, fitness programs, concerts, quizzes, reunions and countless old stories of battles won and lost, growing in heroic detail each time they’re told. But success and titles on the pitch come and go and today’s hero is replaced with the next one tomorrow. It becomes part of who you are and that bond you form with your team mates growing up is rarely broken as the years pass.

I just turned 40 and the playing days are well behind me now. I’m still inside the white lines, but this time coaching and trying to convince a bunch of minors that it’ll all be over in the blink of an eye, so take every opportunity that comes their way. I vividly remember being that age and thinking I had a lifetime to gather up county medals. You don’t. Its over in a flash and you’re suddenly on the wrong side of the fence looking in, not walking off the pitch and glancing over for a wink from your Da.

Still, that’s how it goes. Do your bit then tap out and hope it’s in safe hands.

The boys head into an Ulster Championship this weekend. I couldn’t be more delighted and proud to see the flag flying high but it kills to not be playing one last time. To feel that unmistakable buzz in the air at training and see that look in the eyes staring back at you ready for war. Local heroes through the winter chill, making history once again.

Life throws challenges at you every chance it gets, but the white lines keep them out. Inside the white lines nothing matters except what’s about to go down over the next 60 minutes as 15 men come together as 1 to represent not only their club and their parish, but every man that’s gone before them wearing that very same crest with pride.

Leave nothing behind lads. Everyone’s behind you every step of the way.

“In the end, the things we regret most are the chances we never took”.

Good luck to our Senior Hurlers and Management. Con Mag Aoidh abú