Leinster U20 Hurling Championship – Tier 2

Antrim 2-21 Down 1-13

Antrim’s U20 hurlers secured a hard-fought victory over old rivals Down at the Dub in Belfast, though the final scoreline masked a significantly more competitive encounter than their previous meeting with Down. While the Saffrons had cruised to an 18-point victory in the Ulster final just weeks ago, this Leinster Tier 2 clash proved to be a much sterner test of their resolve. Down were in contention until the final five minutes, before a late surge of 2-02 from the hosts finally broke their resistance and gave the result a somewhat flattering appearance.

The visitors enjoyed a dream start when a failure in the Antrim defense allowed late addition John Dougan to find his range and blast a shot into the top corner of the net in the fifth minute. Antrim were slow to find their rhythm, hampered by early complacency and a greasy surface, but they eventually settled through the efforts of their excellent midfield duo of Charlie McAuley and Callagh Mooney. Despite the clinical free-taking of Cahal Colman, who remained a constant threat for Down throughout the evening, Antrim managed to claw back the early deficit. A late free from Oisin McCallin ensured the home side held a narrow one point lead at the interval.

The second half continued in a similar fashion, with stop-start play allowing Down to stay within touching distance. Cahal Coleman continued to punish Antrim’s indiscretions from placed balls, keeping the gap to just five points midway through the half. Mickey McShane was forced to look to his bench for fresh energy, and the introduction of substitutes helped wrestle back control. Liam McEnhill broke a long scoring drought with a crucial strike to keep the scoreboard moving, while Oisin McCallin matched his counterpart’s accuracy to maintain the Saffron lead as Down hunted for a goal to swing the momentum.

The decisive moment arrived with five minutes remaining when Jay McAlonan’s parried strike fell into the path of Cadhan Crawford, who instinctively finished to the net. This goal finally sapped the energy from the Down challenge, and the victory was sealed shortly after when Oisin McCallin capped a fine individual performance with a solo run and a sharp finish into the top corner. Although the margin of victory eventually grew to double digits, it was a far more grueling battle than their previous provincial meeting. Antrim now advance to face Kerry with a spot in the Tier 2 Leinster final at stake.

ANTRIM: S Óg McLaren; C Donnelly, L Glackin, C McCann; N Magee, C McIlwaine 0-1, C McIntosh; C McAuley 0-2, C Mooney 0-5; L McEnhill 0-1, R Fitzgerald 0-1, C Donnelly, C Crawford 1-4, O McCallin 1-5 (0-3f), R McGarry 0-1

Subs: T McLaughlin 0-1, J McAlonan, O McCamphill

DOWN: C Clarke; P McGarry, B Teggart, L Morgan; M Gilmore, S Pucci, C O’Neill; R Breen 0-1, S McCollum; C Coleman 0-11 (0-9f), F Ferguson 0-1, S McCarthy; C Monan, D Rogers, J Dougan 1-0

Subs: D Pucci, D McGrath 

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ACFL Division 1

Casements 2 – 14  Cargin1 – 16

Despite being reduced to 13 players for the last ten minutes of this round three league encounter at O Ceallaigh Park, gutsy Casements held on by their fingertips to record their first victory against Cargin since May 2009.

Both clubs were missing an equal quota of established performers, but despite that a large and lively crowd has assembled to assess early season progress from clubs that will both have their eye firmly fixed on a bigger prize later in the season.

When Paddy Tumelty got the game underway it was impressive minor star Tom Duffin who opened the scoring from an acute angle, his first contribution of what would turn out to be another highly satisfying individual display. His minor counterpart Odhran Doherty chipped in with a couple of fine long-range efforts as well, but it was the experienced Tomas McCann pulling strings for the visitors that saw them edge slowly and surely ahead as the first half settled down.

McCanns free taking was exemplary, from single- and double-point opportunities. He also had good fortune on his side when another long range free looked to be dropping into Kevin Mullans hands but ended up blindsiding the Casements keeper in the morning sun as the ball trickled into his net.

 A superb double point from distance from Benen Kelly kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely for the men in green. Casements rallied though and a fine catch by Niall McKeever set Dermot McAleese off on a charge before picking out Paddy Graffin junior who made no mistake in blasting it to the roof of the Cargin net to keep the hosts in the contest. A long-range effort from Ronan Kelly further reduced the gap, but Casements could not get into a rhythm, and when they did some wayward finishing was letting them down.

Cargin were more economical in that department and extended their lead to eight points almost on half time when their impressive youngster Jack O’Neill finished off the best move of the half with a confident dispatch between the posts.

The wind would be to the host’s advantage on the restart and it was obvious that this contest had the potential to go right to the wire.

That was how it turned out.

Coming off the back of a game nine-point comeback on their previous outing at Hannahstown, Casements began the half on the front foot, overturning an early opening Cargin point from Eunan Quinn to record the next four scores of the game.

Mattie McGleenan added Ruiari Hagan and Paddy Kelly to the fray, Ryan Devlin introducing experienced stalwarts Marty Kane and Paul McCann in reply.

Big Ronan Kelly kick started Casements comeback with two points from long range, sparking off a period of dominance from the hosts that would see them level things up on the scoreboard in an impressive twelve-minute spell. A few minutes later a high ball was fielded by Niall McKeever who laid off to Paddy Kelly who wasted no time signalling his introduction with a two pointer of his own.

Minor Odhran Doherty used the benefit of the wind to fire over from fifty metres to close the gap, but Cargin bounced back impressively, Tomas McCann, David Johnston and Tom Shivers keeping the flag attendant busy at the road end to maintain a gap in Cargin’s favour.

A superb move started in defence by Daniel McNicholl’s interception and involving three Casements players ended up in the arms of Tom Duffin, the minor star headed off on a mazy solo before coolly slotting home for a goal that changed the complexion of the match.

Neither team asking or receiving any favours and there were a few stoppages as the exchanges became more physical. Referee Paddy Tumelty was letting most things go but brandished a red and a few yellows as the game edged towards its conclusion – resulting in Casements being two players down for the last six minutes of the game.

With Cargin still a point to the good, Casements defence stood tall and against the odds somehow found a way to win a free outside the arc. Ronan Kellys trusty left foot dispatched high into the graveyard end to give his team a slender one-point lead with just a few minutes remaining.

Cargin threw the proverbial kitchen sink into their final charge, and had several changes to win it at the death, a last second effort from stalwart James Laverty rolled right of the posts and wide. Within seconds Paddy Tumelty blew for full time and to the relief of their supporters a long wait had finally ended for a positive outcome against a formidable opponent.

Cargin won’t lose any sleep over the outcome. Their management will have seen plenty to be encouraged about from many of the young players they are blending and have several experienced campaigners to return in due course. Eunan Quinn, Tom Shivers, Benen Kelly, Conan Johnston, Jack O`Neill, James Laverty and Tomas McCann all had fine games.

Casements will take a brief moment to enjoy a victory which has been a long time coming, as Mattie McGleenan continues to develop a Casements side that should be firmly in the mix come the business end of the season. Amongst their excellent performers on the day were Kevin Mullan whose kickouts were superb throughout, the high fetching Niall McKeever, the scoring feet of Tom Duffin, Ronan Kelly and Odhran Doherty, and the industry of Michael Kelly, Conor McGhee and Paddy Graffin. Casements waited a long time to break the stranglehold Cargin have had over them, and the fact that minors Tom Duffin and Odhran Doherty have never lost a game to Cargin suggest this contest might be the start of a promising senior career for both players.