Under 16A Hurling semi-final
Ard na Rí 2-12 Na Seamroga 1-9
A huge crowd filed on to the banks of Milltown Row on Tuesday evening as favourites Loughiel locked horns with the home side Ard na Rí in a battle for a place in the u16 Antrim hurling championship final. And they would not be disappointed
The Shamrocks came into the championship on the back of a strong league finish with wins over Glenariffe and Cushendall to sit top of the table, followed up by a 21 point dismissal of Sarsfields in the quarter final of the championship. But it was Ard na Ri’s outstanding performance in defeating St Pauls in their quarter final which had many neutrals in attendance at St Galls.
And it was the underdogs who took up where they left off the week before by producing a defensive masterclass in shutting out an extremely talented Shamrocks forward line led by Domhnall McKay.
The game set off at a high pace but both sides were guilty of nervous shooting resulting in some uncharacteristic wides before Fionn McCann settled the home side with a well worked and superbly finished point from play in the seventh minute. Odhran Bellew was off target with two long range frees into a difficult breeze before Dylan O Boyle, with the wind at his back, sent in a long range free which was completely lost by the Ard na Rí full back line and sailed straight into Fionn Smith’s net. Sensing a shift in momentum, the Loughiel men were immediately on the attack from the puck out but Cian Higgins shot tailed wide before another effort on goal was created. This time, Fionn Smith made up for the earlier goal by producing a great save and a composed clearance to halt the onslaught.
That was as good as it would get for the Shamrocks as Ollie Bellew’s side hit four unanswered points from play from Ronan Taylor, Conall Dempsey and two from Padraig Kelly.
The battle between Odhran Bellew and Loughiel sharpshooter McKay was proper championship stuff with the Loughiel man the focal point of their puck out. It was McKay who kept his side in touching distance with a well taken point from play in the 24th minute. The game then lifted in intensity yet again. But it was the home side who answered in style. Still hurling into a strong breeze, Pody Kelly clipped over two more frees before Fionn McCann and Conall Dempsey had the home support rocking with two more from play. Collie Thompson’s short whistle signalled the end of a relentless half of hurling and both sides heading off to a great reception from their fans.
Loughiel certainly lit the touch paper in the second half with the dominant and hard running Eunan Johnson driving at the Ard na Ri defence at every opportunity. But with Seagh McEwan and Cairbre Adams marshalling Cian Higgins and Caolan McCollum, Barra Bellew and Aaron Flynn were able to turn over the Loughiel attack at every opportunity – credit must go to both sides for their excellence in the tackle with an unusually high amount of turnovers and dispossessions. And it was from one of those turnovers after a high Loughiel press that Dan Murray delivered a long-range clearance to the tireless Dempsey who took on the Shamrocks defence to grab a goal in the fourth minute of the half.
In the 9th minute, Ard na Rí introduced Laim Finnegan and he popped over a point from play with his first touch. With the game lifting again in intensity, Johnson was pushed further upfield and forced Ard na Rí to double their efforts in defence, such was the talent of the centre half back. But it was Ard na Rí who would deliver another blow as super-sub Finnegan pounced on a breaking ball and found the Loughgiel net. Kelly added a pointed free before Ronan Taylor raised the white flag from play. Kelly would add another from play as the home side began to take control once again. To their credit, the Shamrocks did not lie down and when Caolan McCollum sent over a point in the 19th minute the men in red were still throwing everything at the Ard na Ri defence.
As the light began to drop, Collie Thompson brought an end to the game to great celebrations on the Milltown Hill. Two teams gave their all and both were gracious and sporting in defeat and victory.
